The All Progressives Congress in Osun State has rejected its State Presidential Campaign Council list. The party alleges breaches of party guidelines and exclusion of key officials. The state publicity secretary, Wole Adunola, issued a statement on Tuesday in Abuja. It was jointly signed by two other party officials. The statement said the list failed to reflect due process, inclusiveness and respect for established party structures.
Campaign council lists are negotiated between national and state party leaders. They often produce friction. In 2023, several states rejected the presidential campaign council lists over exclusion and marginalisation. The pattern repeats because the lists distribute campaign resources, positions and access. Osun is a battleground state. The APC lost the governorship in 2022 to the PDP’s Ademola Adeleke. In 2026, Adeleke was reportedly named Director-General of the state presidential campaign council. The current dispute reflects deeper tensions over who controls the state campaign machinery.
Adunola said several State Working Committee members who should be statutory members were excluded. He said the exclusion raised concerns about consultation, due process and respect for the party’s leadership structure. He also questioned the composition of the council in relation to the earlier presidential directive naming Adeleke as Director-General.
He suggested the newly released list might have been intended for a Parliamentary Campaign Council rather than the Presidential Campaign Council. “If the newly released list was intended to serve as a Parliamentary Campaign Council rather than the PCC, its composition would be more understandable,” he said.
He called for an immediate review of the list. He asked for consultations involving the APC National Secretary, Senator Surajudeen Basiru, and the State Director-General. He said the consultations would ensure alignment, coordination and respect for party procedures.
Adunola reaffirmed the chapter’s commitment to Tinubu’s re-election. But he warned that party loyalty should not prevent constructive engagement when decisions risk creating division. He urged state and national leaders to address the concerns promptly.
Winners: The Osun APC chapter, which asserted its position. State Working Committee members, if reinstated. The national leadership, if it resolves the dispute. Losers: The campaign council, which faces uncertainty. The party, if the dispute escalates. Tinubu’s campaign, which faces a distraction in a battleground state. Adeleke, whose role is questioned. The APC, if the conflict weakens its Osun campaign.
Bottom Line: The list excluded statutory members. The state chapter rejected it. The national leadership must review. Osun is a battleground. The party cannot afford internal war. The campaign must be unified. The list must be corrected.