The All Progressives Congress (APC) has appointed former Osun State Deputy Governor, Iyiola Omisore, and Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to its 276-member National Campaign Council for the upcoming Osun State governorship election scheduled for August 15, 2026.
The APC National Working Committee unveiled the campaign council on Sunday, naming Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodimma, as chairman. The council will be inaugurated on Tuesday, July 28, at the Transcorp Hilton Event Centre in Abuja. The announcement was made in a statement signed by APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru.
Omisore’s inclusion is expected to quell speculation about his allegiance to the APC, following the recent defection of some of his political associates to the Accord party in support of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s re-election. The rumours intensified after Omisore’s absence from the APC governorship campaign flag-off in Ile-Ife, leading to claims that he was distancing himself from the party.
According to the notice, Uzodimma will chair the campaign council, with Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas serving as co-chairmen. President Bola Tinubu’s Senior Special Assistant on Political and Other Matters, Ibrahim Masari, was named Deputy Chairman, while Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin will serve as Secretary.
The council comprises governors, National Working Committee members, principal officers of the National Assembly, ministers, federal and state lawmakers, party leaders, and other stakeholders from across Nigeria. Basiru also noted the creation of specialised sub-committees for areas such as Election Planning and Management, Finance and Resource Mobilisation, Grassroots Engagement, Logistics, Monitoring and Compliance, Protocol, Media and Publicity, Security, Youth and Women Mobilisation, Special Interest Mobilisation, and Secretariat. The inauguration of the council and its sub-committees is set for July 28, 2026, at the Transcorp Hilton Event Centre, Abuja, at 12:00 noon.
APC’s candidate for the Osun governorship is former Finance Commissioner Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), chosen as the consensus candidate after consultations with party stakeholders. He will face incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke in a contest widely viewed as a major political test ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Responding to Omisore’s appointment, Mr. Ajibola Famurewa, Chairman of the Omisore Campaign Organisation, dismissed claims that Omisore was drifting from the APC. “If Otunba Omisore’s name is on the list, as a former deputy governor, senator, and national secretary of the party, it is customary to include such personalities, especially from Osun State. As a loyal party man, he will accept the assignment, depending on the specific role given to him within the council.”
Famurewa clarified that Omisore and other APC leaders who missed the flag-off event received their invitations less than 24 hours before, making attendance difficult.
