Ahead Gov Adeleke’s ‘Defection,’ APC National Secretary Withdraws from Osun Governorship Race
Senator Ajibola Bashiru, the National Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced his withdrawal from the race to secure the governorship ticket of the party ahead of Osun State governorship election scheduled for 2026.
The APC has slated December 13, 2025 for the primary election to elect its candidate for the election.
Senator Bashiru who made the announcement at Osogbo, the Osun State capital during the opening ceremony of his campaign office christened, Alubarika House said that he took the decision to enable him concentrate on the “ enormous responsibilities” of his current office as the national secretary of the ruling party.
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According to the former Senate Spokesman, “Considering the enormous responsibilities of my current office as National Secretary of our great party and after due consultations with our esteemed leaders and stakeholders, particularly, the Leader of our party and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, it has become necessary to emphatically state that I shall not be contesting the 2026 Osun State governorship election.”
The former lawmaker, however, stressed that his decision to withdraw from the race “does not signify a withdrawal from our shared progressive visions in any way.”
He rather reiterated that, “a renewed pledge to deepen my commitment to continue working with our leaders and all members of the Alubarika Movement and the APC in Osun State and Nigeria to nurture and support emerging political leaders in the APC who will renew the hopes of the good people of Nigeria in alignment with the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
A senior member of the party who spoke to FACTSHEET on the condition of anonymity, revealed that the withdrawal of Senator Bashiru from the Osun governorship race was tactical move to accommodate the current governor of the State, Senator Ademola Adeleke who is said to have concluded plans to join the ruling party.
Governor Adeleke had boycotted the factional national convention of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), due to concerns of the legitimacy of the convention which was held in total disobedience of two Federal High Court judgements that ordered the stoppage of the convention for not meeting constitutional requirements.
Despite the withdrawal of Senator Ajibola Bashiru who was seen as the favourite aspirant, several others remain in the race. Among the prominent ones are, a former Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji; former Senate Committee chairman on Rules and Business, Senator Babajide Omoworare; former Deputy Governor, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Dotun Babayemi, former Osun Deputy Governor, Benedict Alabi; the Chairman, Mutual Assurance Benefits, Akin Ogunbiyi; and legal practitioner Kunle Adegoke (SAN).
