Former Governor of Osun State and current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has formally announced that he will not contest in the 2026 governorship election in the state.
Oyetola made this disclosure at a meeting of All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders held in Osogbo on Friday, stating that his decision was in the interest of party unity and strategic positioning ahead of the polls.
The former governor, who ruled Osun State between 2018 and 2022 before losing re-election to Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), however, affirmed that reclaiming the state for the APC was “non-negotiable.”
“I will not be running in the 2026 governorship election. Our party is blessed with competent and visionary leaders with excellent track records who can lead Osun State. My focus is to ensure APC returns to power, and I will work tirelessly toward that goal,” Oyetola declared.
He urged all aspirants vying for the APC ticket to avoid smear campaigns, divisiveness, or politics of bitterness. He emphasized that only unity and discipline could deliver victory for the party.
“This is not the time for politics of acrimony. Let us focus on the bigger picture—rescuing Osun from PDP’s misrule. Any aspirant who foments internal crisis is indirectly working against the party,” he warned.
Oyetola also dismissed concerns over recent coalition talks against President Bola Tinubu, describing the movements as unstable and lacking grassroots support.
“The so-called coalition is already wobbling. It’s the same group that transited from TOP to Omoluabi and now ADC. It poses no threat to APC, especially in Osun,” he said.
He commended APC members across Osun for their resilience since the party’s 2022 loss, urging them to mobilise massively for the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise and ensure they collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
“Victory at the polls begins with voter registration. Let’s take this seriously. It’s our gateway to reclaiming Osun,” he added.
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