President Bola Tinubu has held an emergency meeting with 76 leaders of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State as the party moves to resolve internal disagreements ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The meeting, which reportedly took place late Monday night at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, followed an intelligence report presented by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
According to sources familiar with the development, Ribadu informed the President that several APC leaders in Osun were dissatisfied and felt excluded from the party’s activities, including the ongoing campaign.
Tinubu subsequently directed the party’s National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, to bring the aggrieved leaders together for discussions.
The President reportedly urged the party leaders to put aside their differences, close ranks and work collectively towards securing victory for the APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.
The leaders were flown to Abuja on chartered flights from Ibadan, while some others travelled from Lagos. Among those said to have attended were former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Olubunmi Ete; former state House of Assembly Speakers Mojeed Alabi, Adejare Bello and Wale Afolabi; as well as Shuaib Oyedokun, Poju Odusola, Bode Olanipekun and former presidential aide Babajide Omoworare.
One of the participants described the meeting as a frank session where party leaders aired their grievances and discussed ways to strengthen the APC ahead of the election.
The source alleged that some leaders complained that federal appointments from Osun had largely gone to members of the camp loyal to former Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, leaving other party stakeholders feeling excluded.
The leaders reportedly told Tinubu that many APC members in the state were not adequately involved in the running of the party or the campaign.
In response, the President was said to have warned that internal divisions could hurt the party’s chances at the election. He reportedly urged the leaders to prioritise the success of the APC rather than personal differences.
Tinubu also expressed disappointment over the party’s defeats in previous elections in Osun, according to one of the participants.
The President reportedly reminded the leaders that Oyetola had been given significant resources to secure re-election but lost the 2022 governorship election, adding that the defeat was ultimately a loss for the APC.
He consequently urged the leaders to return to the state and work together for the party’s candidate.
Another APC chieftain who attended the meeting said the gathering was productive and that the participants were satisfied with Tinubu’s response to their concerns.
The source added that some leaders had expressed fears that members outside the Oyetola camp could remain excluded from government appointments if the APC wins the election.
Tinubu reportedly assured them that there would be enough opportunities at the federal level to accommodate party members from Osun, urging them to unite and deliver victory for the APC.
Basiru later confirmed awareness of the meeting, although he declined to provide details.
A source close to the APC National Secretary said Basiru facilitated the gathering because of his determination to ensure that the party presents a united front and wins the election.
The source said the party could not afford to enter the election with unresolved grievances among its leaders and members.
Meanwhile, the Accord Party in Osun State has accused the APC of harbouring alleged election hackers at a hotel in Osogbo.
The party claimed the individuals were brought into the state to compromise the Independent National Electoral Commission’s electronic system and manipulate election results.
The Accord Party called on security agencies to investigate the allegation and urged INEC to strengthen its digital security ahead of the poll.
However, the Osun APC rejected the allegation, describing it as false and baseless.
The party’s spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, said the APC had no need to rig the election and dismissed the allegation as a product of fear of defeat.
He challenged the Accord Party to report the matter to the police if it had evidence to support its claims.
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