Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) across the four Local Government Areas of Ife Federal Constituency, Ife Central, Ife East, Ife North, Ife South, and the Ife East Area Office, Modakeke, have thrown their weight behind former APC National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, endorsing him as the sole aspirant for the 2026 Osun State governorship election.
The endorsement was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a stakeholders’ meeting held at Omisore’s country home in Oduduwa Estate, where participants urged the former deputy governor to formally declare his ambition.
Speaking at the meeting, Hon. Jamiu Olawumi described Omisore as the most experienced and electable leader capable of defeating the Adeleke dynasty in the 2026 polls. Supporting this position, Hon. Rufus Awotidoye, Chairman of the Forum of APC Local Government Chairmen in Osun State, reaffirmed Ife North’s commitment and called on members across the state to unite behind Omisore’s candidacy.
Hon. Abimbola Ajilesoro, who represents Ife Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, expressed satisfaction with his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, describing himself as proud to represent Omisore’s federal constituency. He pledged his total support for Omisore’s governorship bid.
Former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Sooko Adeleke Adewoyin, recalled Omisore’s long-standing aspiration since 1994, insisting that the time had come for Ife to produce the next governor. He disclosed that efforts were ongoing across strategic political platforms to ensure Omisore’s emergence.
Also addressing the gathering, former Commissioner for Education, Hon. Folorunso Bamisayemi, pointed to recent strategic gains by the APC in Osun East, which have been bolstered by high-profile defections, including that of Ajilesoro. He underscored the importance of zoning and electoral arithmetic in Osun politics, noting that Osun East, with Ile-Ife, Osogbo, and Ede as pivotal voting blocs, currently holds an advantage within the APC.
“With the PDP expected to present a candidate from Ede, where the incumbent, Governor Ademola Adeleke, hails from, the party must consider zoning its ticket to Ife to strengthen its chances,” Bamisayemi stated, adding that Omisore remained the strongest candidate to harness public sentiment and secure victory.
In response, Senator Omisore formally declared his intention to contest the 2026 governorship election. He explained that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had earlier given him the responsibility of ensuring APC’s return to power in Osun, particularly when it was expected that former Governor Gboyega Oyetola would recontest. Following Oyetola’s withdrawal and after wide consultations across the state, Omisore said he had resolved to heed the call to serve.
“After sustained pressure from party members across all levels and extensive consultations, I am convinced this is a call to service. I hereby declare my ambition to contest the 2026 governorship election in Osun State,” Omisore announced.
He thanked the people of Ife for their consistent support, promising to deliver purposeful leadership, harness national goodwill, and advance a prosperous Osun State under the Renewed Hope agenda.
Present at the meeting were local government and ward chairmen, councillors, former members of the State House of Assembly, and several prominent APC leaders from the constituency, including former Deputy Governor Sooko Adeleke Adewoyin, former Minister of Water Resources Engr. Bashir Isola Awotorebo, Hon. Abimbola Taofeek Ajilesoro, and Alhaji Fatai Kolawole, a former Executive Secretary of SUBEB.
