The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has expressed dissatisfaction with the formation of the Presidential Campaign Committee for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, alleging that the party’s state leadership was neither consulted nor formally informed before the committee was announced.
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, who belongs to the Accord Party, is serving as the state coordinator of the campaign committee.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Osun APC Chairman Tajudeen Lawal said the party became aware of the committee’s membership only after the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, published the list on social media on Wednesday afternoon.
Lawal maintained that the party had received no official communication regarding the committee’s inauguration before the announcement was made public.
He also questioned the short notice given for the inauguration, arguing that announcing the event less than 12 hours before it was scheduled could prevent several party leaders and members from attending.
According to him, the state APC leadership should have been consulted before the list was released, particularly given the significance of the presidential campaign.
Although the party reaffirmed its commitment to securing President Tinubu’s re-election, Lawal stressed that the process required proper planning and coordination rather than a rushed arrangement.
He said the APC regarded Tinubu’s second-term ambition as a collective responsibility and had been working through various channels to support it. However, he insisted that an undertaking of such importance should be organised in accordance with established procedures.
Lawal further noted that the campaign concerned the re-election of a President elected under the APC, which he described as the largest democratic party in sub-Saharan Africa. He argued that this made consultation and proper coordination essential.
The party also raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding the committee’s composition, suggesting that the arrangement could create unnecessary disagreements between the APC and Adeleke, who was appointed to coordinate the campaign in Osun.
Lawal stated that the structure of the committee appeared capable of generating avoidable misunderstandings between the party and the governor.
Despite its objections, the Osun APC said it remained willing to make concessions in the interest of President Tinubu’s re-election. The party clarified that its concern was not about refusing cooperation but about ensuring that decisions were taken through an appropriate process.
The statement also acknowledged the potential value of Adeleke’s participation in the campaign, particularly as it could provide an opportunity for cooperation across party lines. Nevertheless, the APC maintained that such collaboration should be supported by adequate consultation and effective coordination.
The committee’s inauguration was scheduled to hold in Osogbo on Thursday. Those expected at the event included Governor Adeleke and two former governors of Osun State, Bisi Akande and Adegboyega Oyetola, according to reports cited by Naija News.
The committee was reportedly made up of political leaders, elected representatives, former lawmakers, party officials and other stakeholders drawn from the APC, the Accord Party and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The disagreement has brought attention to the arrangements for Tinubu’s re-election campaign in Osun State, particularly the need to coordinate political stakeholders from different parties under a single campaign structure.
