The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Adesina Adeyemi-Doro, has announced his decision to step down from the Osun governorship race and support the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, ahead of the August 15 election.
Adeyemi-Doro made the declaration on Saturday in Osogbo during an “Osun Youth Interactive Session with Oyebamiji” organised by the APC Campaign Council.
He said the decision followed consultations with APGA leaders and members across the state, adding that the discussions resulted in an alignment with the APC candidate.
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“I am here today to declare publicly to the good people of Osun State our allegiance, support, and collaboration as we join His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji, and the All Progressives Congress,” Adeyemi-Doro said.
He added that after consulting the APGA state chairman, secretary and other senior party members, “we have reached an alignment.”
“At the end of the day, we are all progressives. We look forward to a situation where, by the special grace of God, we will deliver Osun State to our governor, Oyebamiji,” he said.
The endorsement gives Oyebamiji an additional political ally less than a week before the poll, although its electoral impact will depend on how effectively Adeyemi-Doro’s supporters and APGA structures translate the declaration into votes.
Oyebamiji welcomed the development and promised to accommodate APGA members in his administration if elected.
“Thank you so much. I appreciate this, and I want to assure you that we will work together to rescue Osun State from the current bad government. Your people will be taken care of,” he said.
The APC candidate also disclosed that his campaign would continue reaching out to other political parties and candidates to widen its support ahead of election day.
“I am glad about this development, and we will also reach out to other parties so that we can join hands together to build a greater Osun State,” Oyebamiji said.
Adeyemi-Doro had previously campaigned on a platform of better governance, with emphasis on agriculture, education, healthcare, infrastructure and opportunities for young people.
His decision to back Oyebamiji marks a significant shift from his earlier position as one of the 14 candidates cleared for the governorship election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission had listed Adeyemi-Doro as APGA’s candidate and Oyebamiji as the APC candidate for the August 15 poll.
The election will also feature incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke, who is seeking re-election, alongside candidates from other political parties.
At Saturday’s youth engagement, the Chairman of the Osun APC Campaign Council’s Directorate of Youth, Students and Civil Society, Ayodele Asalu, said young people wanted clear answers on education, employment, entrepreneurship and community development.
He urged participants, including those who were not APC members, to question the candidates and assess their proposals before deciding how to vote.
The development comes as the major contenders intensify their campaigns and political negotiations in the final days before voting.
With the election less than a week away, Oyebamiji will now seek to turn the endorsement into wider grassroots support as he challenges Adeleke and the other contenders for control of the Osun State Government House.
