There are credible reports that two governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun State, Bola Oyebamiji and Ajibola Basiru, are already courting former Governor Rauf Aregbesola.
This development, DAILY POST learnt, may be a fallout from the recent visit of Governor Ademola Adeleke, his elder brother Deji Adeleke, and Afrobeat musician Davido to President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday.
Insiders within both camps revealed that the overture to Aregbesola, who also served as Minister of Interior in the Buhari administration, was prompted by anger over President Tinubu’s decision to host Governor Adeleke at his Bourdillon residence in Ikoyi, Lagos.
Loyalists from both factions had earlier criticised the President following the visit, accusing him of betrayal and threatening political repercussions.
Sources within the camps disclosed that the visit appeared to close off any likelihood of the unlawful deployment of federal agencies to influence the 2026 elections in favour of the state APC, thus prompting new strategic realignments ahead of the polls.
The immediate past Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Timothy Owoeye, echoed this sentiment, stating that the party’s governorship ticket was not for sale to anyone, and that Governor Adeleke was not welcome in the Osun APC.
According to a source in the Bola Oyebamiji camp, the outreach to the Aregbesola group is a calculated move to counter the entrenched political dominance of the Adeleke family.
“Our leaders are reaching out to Aregbesola. You just need to remember that Aregbesola was the original godfather of our Principal. Ambo has no personal issue with Aregbesola. So rapprochement is a path being pursued,”; the source said.
However, the source was silent on whether Oyebamiji had obtained the consent of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, before initiating a new alliance with Aregbesola.
In the Ajibola Basiru camp, reports indicate that the APC National Secretary has been discreetly sending emissaries to Rauf Aregbesola, seeking reconciliation and urging him to forgive past grievances and support his gubernatorial ambition.
“We are in touch with Aregbesola. There is no doubt about that. Both Basiru and Ogbeni are back in a political relationship. This is politics. No permanent enemy or friend,”; a close ally of Basiru declared.
Meanwhile, both camps have accused each other of engaging Aregbesola, trading allegations of betrayal.
While the Bola Oyebamiji camp has alleged that Basiru has sealed a deal with Aregbesola, the Basiru faction has levelled the same accusation against the Oyebamiji group.
Reports of the aspirants’ rapprochement with Aregbesola are said to have reached the Presidency, allegedly fuelling further resentment towards some APC leaders in Osun State.
These reports come amid recent purported open attacks on President Tinubu by known APC leaders in the state.
