Governorship poll; Akpabio, governors, others storm Osogbo as APC holds final rally

The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday stepped up its final campaign push ahead of Saturday’s Osun State governorship election as Senate President Godswill Akpabio, several governors, national party leaders and other prominent stakeholders converged on Osogbo for the party’s mega rally.

The high-powered mobilisation rally is the APC’s final major campaign event before the August 15 election and is aimed at rallying supporters behind the party’s governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji.

Former Osun State Governor and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, confirmed the arrival of the party leaders in a post on his X account on Thursday.

“It is a pleasure to welcome the Senate President, His Excellency Godswill Akpabio; Governor Hope Uzodimma; Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa; Governor Uba Sani; other distinguished Governors, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda; party leaders, stakeholders and other dignitaries to Osun State for the APC Governorship Campaign Mega Rally in Osogbo,” Oyetola wrote.

He expressed optimism that the rally would be peaceful and successful, as APC supporters from across the state gather in the capital.

“As members and supporters of the APC family converge in Osogbo, we look forward to a peaceful, vibrant and successful campaign event,” he added.

Other prominent APC figures at the rally include Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and member of the House of Representatives representing Ikeja Federal Constituency, James Faleke.

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The gathering marks the climax of weeks of campaigning by the ruling party across Osun’s 30 local government areas, with party leaders expected to use the final rally to reinforce their appeal to voters and energise the party’s grassroots structure.

Oyebamiji emerged as the APC candidate after winning the party’s governorship primary held in Osogbo. He will face incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, alongside candidates of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), People’s Redemption Party (PRP) and other political parties.

The election was originally scheduled for August 8 but was shifted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to August 15, making Thursday, August 13, the final day for campaign activities.

The APC rally is taking place against the backdrop of heightened political tension in the state, with allegations and counter-allegations among the major political parties.

The Accord Party has accused the APC of deploying federal influence to intimidate or suppress opposition parties, an allegation the ruling party has rejected.

Tension also escalated last week after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) froze accounts belonging to the Osun State Government shortly before the election.

President Bola Tinubu subsequently intervened and directed the anti-graft agency to immediately unfreeze the accounts.

With campaigns now officially ending, attention is expected to shift to election-day mobilisation, security arrangements and the conduct of the August 15 poll, which will determine who governs Osun State for the next four years.