Oyinlola Leads PDP Faction in Osun to Back APC’s Oyebamiji Ahead of Governorship Poll

A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State, led by former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, has thrown its weight behind the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO, ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

The group, affiliated with the Saminu Turaki-led faction of the PDP, mobilised its members and supporters from various local government areas across the state to formally declare their backing for Oyebamiji.

The endorsement was made at the WOCDIF Event Centre in Osogbo, where several prominent political figures gathered to publicly announce their support for the APC candidate.

Among those who attended the event was Fatai Akinbade, a former governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former Secretary to the State Government during Oyinlola’s administration.

Also at the gathering was Taju Oladipo, a former PDP South-West Vice Chairman, alongside other party leaders, former political office holders and political stakeholders.

Speaking to the gathering, Oyinlola stressed that the group had not renounced its membership of the PDP, explaining that its decision to support Oyebamiji was driven by what it considered to be the broader interest of Osun State.

“Let me begin by making one thing very clear: we remain members of the Peoples Democratic Party, the PDP. Our membership of the PDP is not in question.

“However, being members of a political party does not mean that we should abandon our conscience or the larger interest of the people we have served. Party loyalty is important, but the interest of Osun State must always come first.

“It is on this basis that we have resolved to officially declare our support for Mr Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC,” he said.

Oyinlola explained that the decision to support the APC candidate was informed by the group’s belief that Osun State required a change in the direction of governance.

He further alleged that the current administration had not given sufficient room for political stakeholders to participate meaningfully in the affairs of the state.

“We were among the major stakeholders who worked tirelessly towards the emergence of the present administration under the platform of the PDP.

“We believed in that project. We supported it. We mobilised our people for it. We invested our time, energy and political capital in it because we believed that it represented the aspirations of our people.

“Unfortunately, along the line, things began to fall apart. One of the major issues that have created this unfortunate situation, in our considered view, is the lack of inclusiveness in the governance of our state,” he said.

The former governor maintained that his extensive political experience, combined with the experience of other members of the group, had enabled them to carefully assess the political and governance situation in Osun.

“We believe strongly that no party or government can succeed sustainably when it does not carry its people and leaders along,” he said.

Oyinlola also cautioned against interpreting the group’s endorsement of Oyebamiji as a formal departure from the PDP, reiterating that their party membership remained intact.

“By the grace of God, I had the privilege of serving as Governor of Osun State for seven and a half years. Many of the distinguished leaders seated here today, as well as the majority of members of this convergence, have served our state in one capacity or another and have contributed immensely to the growth and development of Osun.

“We are therefore not newcomers to the political affairs of Osun State. We understand the history, we understand the struggles, and we understand the circumstances that brought us to where we are today.

“Let me repeat that our decision today should not be interpreted as an abandonment of the PDP,” he said.

In his response, Oyebamiji promised that his administration would adopt an inclusive approach to governance if elected, assuring the gathering that political stakeholders would be given opportunities to contribute to decisions affecting the state.

“Those seated here are Osun’s stakeholders. There is no way one will abandon your wisdom and experiences if he wants to succeed as governor.

“I am assuring you that we will not abandon anyone in the running of the state. We won’t restrict governance to just a family or a community,” he said.

Earlier at the event, the Director-General of the APC Campaign Council, Wole Oke, called on members of the PDP faction to take the campaign for Oyebamiji to the grassroots.

Oke specifically urged them to return to their respective wards and polling units across the state and mobilise voters and supporters for the APC candidate ahead of the governorship election.