The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has said he is not interested in contesting the 2026 governorship election in Osun State.
Oyetola, who is the immediate past governor of the state, made his decision known to the party leaders at an All Progressives Congress stakeholders’ meeting held in Osogbo on Friday.
There had been insinuations that Oyetola might join the governorship race.
But speaking at the meeting attended by five governorship aspirants, Oyetola, who co-led the session alongside the Osun APC Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, and Chairman of the Elders’ Caucus, Sola Akinwumi, stated that bringing the APC back to power by 2026 was paramount and achievable.
He subsequently announced that he would not be seeking the APC governorship ticket and extended his best wishes to those running on the party’s platform to contest the August 7, 2026 poll.
“We have qualified, competent, and people of outstanding track records as aspirants contesting for the governorship election, and this is a unique selling proposition to feast on, and we will continue to complement the federal government’s efforts on all fronts,” Oyetola said
When contacted on Saturday, Osun APC spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, said the ex-governor told the meeting that he would not be contesting in the next governorship poll.
Olabisi, however, added that Oyetola, who admonished the governorship aspirants to avoid the use of foul language, also told them to work harder for the party to emerge victorious at the poll.
“The aspirants that attended the meeting include Mr. Kunle Adegoke, Omooba Dotun Babayemi, Alhaji Bola Oyebamiji, Senator Mudasiru Hussein, and Senator Babajide Omoworare.
“The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Isiaq Gboyega Oyetola, told the meeting he was not interested in contesting in the next governorship election.
“He also charged the aspirants to support anyone that emerges as our candidate. He called on them to work hard and promised to support the party to win the next election. He told party leaders to be courageous and avoid utterances that can create division. He wished all of them well,” Olabisi said.
Punch