Oyinlola-Led Osun PDP Faction Adopts APC Candidate Oyebamiji

A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State led by former governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola has endorsed Bola Oyebamiji, the All Progressives Congress candidate in the August 15 governorship election.

The faction announced the decision on Sunday in Osogbo, saying it remained in the PDP but would back Oyebamiji because of concerns about how Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration had handled inclusion within the party and government.

Oyinlola said the group was not defecting from the PDP. He said members were exercising their judgement as stakeholders who had served the state and believed Osun needed a different direction at this point.

Vanguard reported that the endorsement took place at the WOCDIF Event Centre in Osogbo and drew party figures including Fatai Akinbade, a former Secretary to the State Government, and Taju Oladipo, a former PDP South-West vice chairman.

Punch reported that Oyebamiji told the gathering that support from political leaders, artisans, business operators, teachers, women and other groups would help the APC in the election.

The endorsement adds another twist to the build-up to the Osun governorship poll, with the APC trying to widen its coalition and the PDP facing internal pressure days before voting.

Sources: Punch, Vanguard