President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has summoned 76 leaders of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State to the Presidential Villa in Abuja amid growing concerns over internal discontent within the party ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The emergency meeting reportedly followed an intelligence report submitted by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, which allegedly raised concerns about dissatisfaction among influential APC leaders in the state.
Sources who attended the meeting told Sunday PUNCH that Tinubu urged the aggrieved party members to put aside their differences and work together to secure victory for the APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.
A former local government chairman who attended the meeting said Ribadu’s report drew the President’s attention to the level of dissatisfaction within the Osun chapter of the party.
According to the source, the report indicated that several APC leaders felt sidelined in the running of the party and the ongoing governorship campaign.
The source said the situation could negatively affect the party’s chances in the election if it was not addressed.
Following the report, Tinubu reportedly contacted APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, and directed him to coordinate the affected leaders for the meeting.
Some of the party chieftains reportedly travelled to Abuja on chartered flights from Ibadan, while others departed from Lagos.
Among those said to have attended were former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Olubunmi Ete; former speakers of the Osun State House of Assembly, Mojeed Alabi, Adejare Bello and Wale Afolabi; as well as Shuaib Oyedokun, Poju Odusola and Bode Olanipekun.
One of the former lawmakers described the meeting as a frank engagement during which party leaders presented their grievances directly to Tinubu.
The source said about 76 leaders attended the meeting and used the opportunity to explain their concerns about the state of the APC in Osun.
He alleged that several federal appointments allocated to the state had largely gone to associates of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy and former Osun State governor, Adegboyega Oyetola.
The source also alleged that many party leaders were not sufficiently involved in the affairs of the APC in the state.
Another participant said Tinubu urged the aggrieved leaders not to allow internal disagreements to undermine the party’s chances in the August 15 governorship election.
The President reportedly reminded them that an electoral defeat would affect the entire party rather than any individual faction.
Tinubu was also said to have expressed concern over the APC’s losses in Osun during the 2022 governorship election and the 2023 general elections.
According to one of the sources, the President urged the party leaders to set aside their grievances and work for the victory of the APC.
Concerns were also reportedly raised over whether an APC administration in Osun would be inclusive if Oyebamiji wins the election.
Tinubu reportedly assured the leaders that there would be opportunities for party members at both the state and federal levels and urged them to unite behind the party’s candidate.
Efforts to obtain a response from Basiru were unsuccessful, as calls and messages sent to him went unanswered.
However, Osun APC Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Olabisi, confirmed that the meeting took place.
He declined to provide further details, saying he was aware of the meeting but could not comment beyond that.
Other party sources also confirmed that Basiru played a role in coordinating the meeting as part of efforts to resolve internal grievances within the Osun APC ahead of the governorship election.
