A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State, led by former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, has endorsed the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Oyebamiji, ahead of Saturday’s election.
The group said its decision to support Oyebamiji was driven by what it described as the lack of inclusiveness in the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke and its desire for a new direction for the state.
Oyinlola announced the group’s decision on Sunday at an event in Osogbo attended by several prominent members of the PDP, including former Secretary to the State Government, Fatai Akinbade, and former PDP National Vice Chairman, South-West, Tajudeen Oladipo.
Despite backing the APC candidate, Oyinlola stressed that the group had not defected from the PDP.
He said the decision was a matter of conscience by party stakeholders who had served the state and believed that supporting Oyebamiji was necessary for the progress of Osun.
Oyinlola said the group had supported the political project that brought Adeleke to power but became dissatisfied with the way the state was being governed.
“One of the major issues that have created this unfortunate situation, in our considered view, is the lack of inclusiveness in the governance of our dear state,” he said.
The former governor said the group had invested its time, energy and political resources in the PDP because it believed the party represented the aspirations of the people.
He, however, said things changed after the administration came into office, leading the group to reconsider its position ahead of the governorship election.
“We believed in that project. We mobilised our people for it. We invested time, energy and political capital in it because we believed that it represented the aspirations of our people.
“But unfortunately, along the line, things began to fall apart,” Oyinlola said.
According to him, government could not succeed in the long term without carrying political leaders and citizens along in decision-making.
He said consultation, participation and collective responsibility had always been important values of the PDP and that these principles should guide governance.
Oyinlola said the group’s endorsement of Oyebamiji was therefore based on what he described as necessity, conviction and a sincere desire to advance the interests of the state.
He urged PDP members and supporters associated with the group to vote for the APC candidate, saying his emergence would help rescue Osun from what he described as political nepotism.
“Let me repeat that our decision today should not be interpreted as an abandonment of the PDP. We remain PDP members,” Oyinlola said.
He added, “We are not here to announce our defection from the PDP. We are not here to renounce our membership of the PDP. Rather, we are exercising our conscience as stakeholders who have served this state and who believe that, at this particular moment, Osun State requires a different direction.”
He formally declared the group’s support for Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO, describing the decision as necessary for the state.
The endorsement represents a major political development in the build-up to the election, given Oyinlola’s long involvement in Osun politics and his influence among some PDP stakeholders.
The former governor served as Osun governor from 2003 to 2010 and has remained an important figure in the state’s political affairs.
The development also comes at a time when the ruling PDP and the opposition APC are seeking the support of influential political leaders and groups across the state ahead of the poll.
The election is expected to be closely contested, with the APC seeking to return to power in the state while the PDP is campaigning to retain the governorship under Adeleke.
The Oyinlola group called on Oyebamiji to make good governance and the welfare of the people the focus of his administration if elected.
Oyinlola listed economic development, infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, youth empowerment and job opportunities among areas the APC candidate should prioritise.
“You must put the people first and run an inclusive government. You must listen to the people. You must ensure that every part of Osun feels represented in your government,” he told Oyebamiji.
Akinbade and Oladipo also called on PDP members in the state to support the APC candidate at the poll.
The two leaders said their decision was not based on personal interests but on what they considered to be in the best interest of Osun residents.
They maintained that supporting Oyebamiji was the best option available to them at the moment.
The endorsement was welcomed by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, who expressed satisfaction with the decision by the PDP leaders.
Oyetola, a former governor of Osun State and a leading member of the APC, described Oyinlola as a grassroots politician and national figure whose political experience and record could not be ignored.
He urged residents to remain peaceful before, during and after the election.
“The victory is ours by the grace of God,” Oyetola said.
Oyebamiji, in his response, thanked the PDP leaders for their support and said the endorsement had strengthened his chances of winning the election.
He said his campaign had received support from different groups and communities across the state.
According to him, his campaign team had visited all the local government areas in Osun State about three times and received a warm reception from residents.
He listed artisans, business operators, teachers, women, men, youths and elderly residents among those who had expressed support for his ambition.
“Our fathers have backed my ambition. Artisans, business operators, teachers, women, men, children and the elderly have all declared their support for my ambition to become governor,” he said.
Oyebamiji also dismissed allegations of possible rigging in the election, saying those raising such concerns were only afraid of defeat.
“Whoever is raising allegations of rigging is expressing fear of defeat that is staring them in the face,” he said.
The APC candidate also assured the Oyinlola-led group that he would run an inclusive administration if elected.
He promised not to disappoint those who had supported his campaign and pledged to work with stakeholders to move the state forward.
“I thank you for the confidence and trust reposed in me. I will stand by your mandate. I will not disappoint you. I will make you proud, and by the grace of God, we shall collectively advance the cause of our state when I become Osun State governor,” he said.
The endorsement is likely to add another layer to the political contest in Osun, where both major parties have been mobilising influential figures and grassroots supporters ahead of the poll.
For the PDP, the development could pose a challenge as it seeks to defend its control of the state. For the APC, the support of the Oyinlola-led faction provides an opportunity to strengthen its appeal among voters who may have previously supported the PDP.
The coming election will therefore test not only the popularity of the candidates but also the ability of the two major parties to mobilise voters and maintain their support bases across the state.
With voting scheduled for Saturday, political activity is expected to intensify in the final days of the campaign as the parties make their last efforts to win undecided voters and consolidate their support across Osun.