President Bola Tinubu has met with about 76 leaders of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The late-night meeting reportedly followed an intelligence report from National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu. The report raised concerns about growing discontent among some APC leaders in the state. Sources who attended the meeting said Ribadu told Tinubu that several party leaders felt sidelined from the party’s affairs and campaign activities. Tinubu then urged them to close ranks and work for the victory of APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji.
Tinubu summons Osun APC leaders
The APC leaders reportedly travelled to Abuja for the meeting. Some flew from Ibadan, while others travelled from Lagos. Those who attended included former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Olubunmi Ete, and former Osun House of Assembly speakers Mojeed Alabi, Adejare Bello and Wale Afolabi.
Other leaders at the meeting included Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun, Poju Odusola, Bode Olanipekun and former presidential aide Babajide Omoworare. A former local government chairman said APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru helped coordinate the gathering after receiving instructions from the Presidency.
An APC chieftain from Boluwaduro Local Government Area said the meeting came after Ribadu raised concerns about division within the party.
“The meeting was at the instance of an intelligence report from the NSA. I am aware that he told Tinubu that many APC leaders in Osun were not happy and had not been carried along in the party’s affairs, including the ongoing campaign. Ribadu said the development, if not urgently addressed, could jeopardise the chances of the party.”
The source said Tinubu then directed Basiru to bring together leaders who felt excluded from the party’s activities.
Leaders raise concerns over Oyetola camp
One of the former lawmakers who attended the meeting said the gathering gave the leaders an opportunity to express their grievances directly to Tinubu. He said about 76 leaders attended the meeting. They complained about what they described as the dominance of former Osun State Governor and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola’s IleriOluwa camp.
“We were around 76 in number at the meeting. It was an opportunity for the President to know the truth about what is happening in Osun State. We told him how the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has given federal appointments to only members of his IleriOluwa camp.”
The former lawmaker said the leaders also complained that many APC members had not been carried along in the running of the party. According to him, Tinubu warned the leaders against allowing internal disagreements to damage the party’s chances in the election.
“Mr President told us that we shouldn’t throw away the bathwater with the baby. He said the party would be at the receiving end if the APC loses the next election.”
The source also quoted Tinubu as expressing disappointment over the party’s losses in the 2022 Osun governorship election and the 2023 general election.
Tinubu urges APC leaders to unite
According to the former lawmaker, Tinubu reminded the leaders that Oyetola had received federal support but still lost his re-election bid.
“Oyetola had all the resources to win his re-election. But he couldn’t use them. Though he lost the election, I appointed him as a minister. In the real sense, it is the party that lost. So, go and work for the victory of the party.”
Another APC chieftain described the meeting as productive. He said the leaders left satisfied with Tinubu’s response to their concerns. The source said some leaders feared that the IleriOluwa camp could continue to dominate appointments if APC wins the election.
Tinubu reportedly assured them that the Federal Government had enough opportunities to accommodate party members from Osun.
“You don’t need to worry yourself. If the appointments in Osun are exhausted, there are enough rooms to accommodate everybody from Osun at the federal level. So, go and unite and deliver Osun.”
APC confirms meeting
Efforts to get a response from Basiru were unsuccessful. He reportedly did not answer calls or respond to messages sent to him. However, Osun APC Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Olabisi, confirmed that the meeting took place. He declined to give further details.
“Yes, I am aware. That is all I can say,” he told Sunday PUNCH.
A loyalist of Basiru also confirmed the meeting. The source said the APC national secretary was committed to resolving internal grievances ahead of the election. He said the party could not afford to enter the election with division among its leaders.
“The reality is that you cannot go into an election when there is disquiet in the party. SRJ (Basiru) wants everyone to be happy and genuinely work for the party.”
The source added that Basiru had publicly campaigned for Oyebamiji, also known as AMBO, and had supported grassroots mobilisation for the candidate.
Accord alleges election hacking plot
Meanwhile, the Accord Party 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 digital systems and manipulate election results.
Accord Chairman in Osun, Victor Akande, called on security agencies to investigate the allegation. He also urged INEC to strengthen its digital security ahead of the election.
“The hackers were brought in from Lagos and Abuja, and they have set up an operational centre at the hotel. Their target is to compromise the INEC electronic system to input fake election results into the INEC server.”
The party also called on security agencies to investigate the alleged operation and prevent any attempt to interfere with the electoral process.
APC denies hacking allegation
The Osun APC spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, dismissed the allegation as false and baseless. He said the APC had no reason to rig the election. He also accused the Accord Party of making the claim because of fears of defeat.
“The allegation that our party is harbouring hackers in a particular hotel in Osogbo is false and without any foundation, and there is no basis for that.”
Olabisi urged the Accord Party to report any suspected hacking operation to the police rather than making public accusations. The controversy comes as the APC and Accord Party intensify their campaigns ahead of the August 15 Osun governorship election.
Read also: Police have no political interest in Osun election, IGP assures Nigerians
