Fresh divisions have emerged within the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) after four members of the party's State Executive Committee rejected the newly released Presidential Campaign Council list, demanding an immediate review of its composition.
The disagreement has raised fresh concerns about internal party unity, leadership coordination and preparations for the 2027 general elections, particularly President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's re-election campaign.
The affected executives announced their position in a joint statement issued in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
The statement was signed by the State Publicity Secretary, Wole Adunola; Welfare Officer, Adesola Ayangbile; Assistant Organising Secretary, Rasheed Adeniji; and State Ex-Officio member, Abiola Ololade.
The four officials expressed dissatisfaction with the campaign council's composition, arguing that it failed to reflect established party guidelines, due process and the principle of inclusiveness.
They consequently declared that they could not accept the list in its present form.
One of the major concerns raised by the aggrieved APC officials was the alleged exclusion of several members of the State Working Committee from the newly constituted campaign council.
According to the executives, the affected officials were expected to be statutory members of the council under the party's applicable guidelines.
They argued that leaving out recognised members of the party's leadership structure raised questions about consultation, institutional respect and the process through which the campaign committee was established.
The signatories maintained that the State Executive Committee remained an important part of the APC's organisational framework and should not be sidelined when forming a statewide campaign structure.
They warned that a campaign council that fails to accommodate legitimate stakeholders could create unnecessary disagreements and weaken the party's collective efforts ahead of the elections.
The four executives also questioned the emergence of the newly released campaign council, particularly its relationship with an earlier presidential directive reportedly naming Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, as Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council in the state.
According to the statement, Adeleke had already inaugurated a broad-based campaign team following the directive to coordinate President Tinubu's campaign activities across Osun State.
The officials therefore questioned why another campaign structure had emerged without adequate clarification or alignment with the existing arrangement.
They suggested that the newly released committee would be more understandable if it was intended to function as a Parliamentary Campaign Council rather than a separate Presidential Campaign Council.
They stressed that clearly distinguishing between the two structures was necessary to prevent confusion, duplication of responsibilities and unnecessary friction among party stakeholders.
The controversy followed the announcement of a 168-member Presidential and Parliamentary Campaign Council by the Osun APC chairman, Tajudeen Lawal.
Under the initial arrangement, Bola Oyebamiji, the party's governorship candidate in the August 2026 election, was named Director-General of the campaign council.
Lawal was appointed Deputy Director-General, with other party members assigned various responsibilities within the campaign structure.
The committee was established to strengthen the APC's political machinery, mobilize support for President Tinubu's re-election and secure votes for other party candidates in the 2027 general elections.
However, its composition triggered objections from the four state executives, who insisted that the arrangement needed to reflect the party's established leadership structure.
Beyond rejecting the list, the four officials called on the party leadership at both state and national levels to intervene and address their concerns.
They specifically requested consultations involving APC National Secretary, Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru, and the State Director-General to ensure proper coordination.
The executives maintained that the campaign council should recognise legitimate party leadership, accommodate important stakeholders and promote unity among members.
Despite their objections, they reaffirmed their commitment to the success of President Bola Tinubu and the overall interests of the APC.
They emphasised that their position was not opposition to the presidential campaign but a demand for a more inclusive and properly coordinated structure.
In a significant development on Tuesday, the Osun APC reportedly revised the controversial campaign structure, dropping the word 'Presidential' from the committee's name.
According to a report by The Guardian, the initially announced Presidential and Parliamentary Campaign Committee was renamed the Parliamentary Campaign Committee.
Under the revised arrangement, Bola Oyebamiji retained his position as Director-General, while the committee's responsibilities were narrowed to mobilising support for APC candidates contesting National Assembly and State House of Assembly seats in the 2027 elections.
The party also indicated that the revised committee would work with members of the existing Presidential Campaign Council to support President Tinubu's re-election bid.
The adjustment represents an important development in the disagreement, although it remains to be seen whether it will fully address the concerns raised by the four executives.
The disagreement comes at a critical period for the APC as political parties begin strengthening their structures ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Osun State remains politically significant, particularly because of the competition among major political parties and the importance of building a united campaign organisation.
Internal disagreements over appointments, leadership positions and stakeholder inclusion could affect mobilisation, coordination and the party's ability to present a united front to voters.
The controversy also highlights the importance of effective communication and consultation when political parties establish campaign committees involving different levels of leadership.
For the APC, resolving the disagreement will be important in preventing internal divisions from distracting members from the broader objective of securing electoral support.
Although the renaming of the committee signals an adjustment to the earlier arrangement, attention will remain on how the Osun APC leadership manages its internal disagreements and coordinates the different campaign structures.
The party's ability to accommodate stakeholders while maintaining clear leadership responsibilities could prove important as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum.
For now, the controversy surrounding the campaign council has placed Osun APC's internal unity under fresh scrutiny, with the coming weeks likely to reveal whether the latest adjustment will bring lasting harmony within the party.