The APGA candidate steps down after consultations, giving APC’s Bola Oyebamiji a fresh endorsement one week before the governorship election

The All Progressives Grand Alliance candidate for the Osun State governorship election, Adesina Adeyemi-Doro, has stepped down and endorsed All Progressives Congress candidate Bola Oyebamiji, injecting a fresh political development into the race one week before the August 15 poll.

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Adeyemi-Doro announced his decision in Osogbo on Saturday during an “Osun Youth Interactive Session with Oyebamiji”, organised by the APC Campaign Council.

The APGA candidate said the decision followed consultations with the party’s state executives and members across Osun, after which he said both sides had reached an alignment based on their shared progressive outlook.

“I am here today to declare publicly to the good people of Osun State our allegiance, support, and collaboration as we join His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji, and the All Progressives Congress, APC,” Adeyemi-Doro said.

Adeyemi-Doro said he had closely assessed the candidates before consulting with the APGA state chairman, secretary and other senior party members.

“I have been watching the candidates closely, and after wide consultations with my state chairman, secretary, and other senior members of the party, we have reached an alignment. At the end of the day, we are all progressives,” he said.

The decision removes one of the 14 candidates originally listed by the Independent National Electoral Commission for the election, although the electoral implications of his withdrawal and the treatment of votes cast for APGA would depend on the applicable electoral rules and INEC’s procedures.

INEC’s final list published earlier this year included Adeyemi-Doro as APGA’s candidate alongside 13 other contenders.

The list also named incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke as the Accord candidate and Oyebamiji as the APC candidate.

The Osun contest has increasingly centred on Adeleke and Oyebamiji, with other candidates seeking to break through the dominance of the two leading campaigns.

Political analysis has identified ADC candidate Najeem Salam as another significant contender in the race.

Oyebamiji welcomed the endorsement and said his campaign would continue reaching beyond APC’s traditional support base.

“Thank you so much. I appreciate this, and I want to assure you that we will work together to rescue Osun State from the current bad government. Your people will be taken care of,” Oyebamiji said.

The APC candidate also indicated that he intended to seek support from other political parties participating in the election.

“I am glad about this development, and we will also reach out to other parties so that we can join hands together to build a greater Osun State,” he said.

The endorsement came during a youth-focused campaign event intended to give Oyebamiji an opportunity to discuss his plans with young people and students from different political backgrounds.

Ayodele Asalu, chairman of the Directorate of Youth, Students and Civil Society of the Osun APC Campaign Council, said the gathering was designed to encourage voters to examine candidates on policy rather than party loyalty.

Asalu said participants wanted to understand how a prospective administration would address education, employment, entrepreneurship and opportunities for artisans and professionals.

He also encouraged attendees who were not APC members to question the candidate directly and assess his proposals independently.

“That is the kind of political engagement our democracy needs,” Asalu said.

The endorsement comes at a consequential moment in the Osun race.

With voting scheduled for Saturday, August 15, the campaigns have entered their final stretch, leaving little time for parties to consolidate alliances and mobilise supporters. INEC’s official website confirms the August 15 date for the Osun governorship election.

The APGA decision also reflects the fluid nature of the contest, where smaller parties can influence the political conversation even when their candidates are not among the leading contenders.

Adeyemi-Doro had previously argued that the election should be judged primarily on the capacity of candidates to deliver better governance rather than on personality.

His decision to support Oyebamiji therefore marks a significant shift from his earlier position as an independent contender in the race.

For Oyebamiji, the endorsement provides another political alliance to build on as the APC campaign seeks to challenge Adeleke’s bid for another term.

For APGA, the move places its state structure behind a candidate from another party despite the party having initially fielded its own candidate.

Whether the endorsement translates into a measurable electoral advantage will ultimately depend on how effectively the alliance mobilises voters across the state.

With 14 parties originally cleared for the contest and the electorate preparing to vote on August 15, the final days of the campaign are likely to bring further negotiations, endorsements and efforts to consolidate political support.

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For now, Adeyemi-Doro’s decision has given Oyebamiji a fresh boost and added another intriguing turn to an increasingly competitive Osun governorship race.