Former Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority, Bola Oyebamiji, has emerged as the All Progressives Congress candidate for the Osun State governorship election.
Oyebamiji was adopted as the party’s consensus flagbearer on Saturday during the APC governorship primary held in Osogbo, the state capital.
His emergence followed a motion moved by two aspirants, Kunle Adegoke (SAN) and Senator Babajide Omoworare, at the primary venue located within the premises of Ebunoluwa Group of Schools.
The motion was subsequently put to a voice vote by the Chairman of the APC Governorship Primary Committee and Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, and was overwhelmingly endorsed by party delegates.
Declaring the outcome, Okpebholo said, “By the powers conferred on me as chairman of this primary committee, I hereby present Bola Oyebamiji as the governorship candidate of our great party.”
The primary election was conducted by affirmation, in line with earlier indications from party leaders that a consensus candidate would be adopted.
The committee chairman had earlier noted that the process would reflect internal consultations and agreements reached by stakeholders.
Okpebholo arrived at the venue alongside the committee’s co-chairman and Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, as well as other committee members, including the Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule; Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, who represented Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; and former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.
Party sources said 1,660 delegates were accredited for the governorship primary, although the consensus arrangement made voting unnecessary.
There were also indications that the APC’s seven governorship aspirants had agreed to support a single candidate following a late-night meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, earlier in the week.
Speaking previously on a television programme, Politics Tonight on TVC News, former APC National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, confirmed his support for the consensus option.
“I have accepted the decision of the party, following guidance from Mr President, in the interest of unity and victory,” Omisore said.
Oyebamiji’s emergence sets the stage for the APC’s bid to reclaim Osun State in the forthcoming governorship election.
