Ebojele Patrick Governor Monday Okpebholo’s political engagement in Osun State came at a moment when the All Progressives Congress (APC) needed clarity, calm and direction. With the 2026 governorship election approaching, the party faced the familiar danger of internal rivalry overshadowing collective purpose. What played out instead was a carefully managed process that produced not just a candidate but renewed confidence and unity within the Osun APC.
As chairman of the APC Osun State Governorship Primary Election Committee, Governor Okpebholo approached the assignment with a clear message from the start. Speaking at the stakeholders’ meeting in Osogbo, he reminded party leaders, aspirants and delegates that the moment demanded sacrifice and cooperation. “We have reached a decisive point,” he told them. “We must work together to take back what belongs to us.”
The statement set the tone. Okpebholo made it clear that the battle ahead was not about individual ambition, but about reclaiming Osun State for the progressive family. He urged all tendencies within the party to see themselves as one indivisible unit, stressing that unity would be the APC’s strongest weapon going into 2026. “We must unite as one strong family,” he said. “The bigger task ahead is the governorship election, and only unity will deliver victory.”
Beyond the rhetoric, Okpebholo focused heavily on process, fully aware that distrust around primaries often breeds crisis. He assured stakeholders that the election would be guided strictly by transparency and fairness. According to him, the committee adopted an affirmation and consensus model to deepen internal democracy and avoid unnecessary friction.
“No delegate will be allowed in without proper accreditation,” Okpebholo declared. “We want every stakeholder to understand the process clearly, so that fairness and accountability are guaranteed.” The emphasis on proper screening of all 166 delegates helped calm anxieties and set clear expectations ahead of the primary.
That clarity proved crucial. By the time party members gathered the next day at Eboluwa International School, Osogbo, the mood was markedly different from the tension that usually characterises such exercises. Presiding over the primary election, Okpebholo described the moment as historic for the party. “This is a great day for the APC in Osun State,” he said, noting that the peaceful atmosphere reflected a shared resolve to move forward together.
He thanked the National Working Committee and fellow governors who served on the election committee, adding, “We do not take the confidence reposed in us for granted. We are fully committed to delivering a process that truly reflects the will of party members.”
When the motion for a consensus candidate was moved and seconded, it sailed through without objection. Bola Oyebamiji emerged as the APC flag bearer, with co-aspirants openly accepting the outcome. The absence of protest or parallel claims spoke volumes. As Okpebholo observed, “What we witnessed here is a clear demonstration of unity of purpose. This unity will strengthen our party as we move towards 2026.”
The Edo governor also used the occasion to place Osun’s political future within a broader national frame. He drew attention to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, praising ongoing reforms and economic interventions across the country. “Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, Mr President has initiated projects and reforms that are shaping our nation,” Okpebholo said. “These efforts deserve our full support, not just today, but as we look ahead to the future.”
According to him, Osun State’s alignment with the federal government is critical for attracting development, investments and economic opportunities. He urged party members to remain steadfast, stressing that political harmony between state and centre would translate into tangible benefits for the people.
The presence of governors, former governors and senior APC leaders from across the country further reinforced the significance of the exercise. Their attendance underscored confidence in Okpebholo’s leadership and the credibility of the process he supervised.
By the end of the primary, the APC in Osun had achieved what is rare in Nigerian politics: consensus without crisis. Governor Monday Okpebholo did not impose unity; he nurtured it through dialogue, transparency and firm adherence to agreed rules. In doing so, he helped reset the party’s internal dynamics.
As preparations for the 2026 governorship election gather momentum, the Osun APC now moves forward with a single candidate, a calmer house and renewed belief in its structures. Okpebholo’s role stands as a reminder that strong leadership is not always loud. Sometimes, it is the steady voice insisting on fairness, unity and purpose that brings a party together and prepares it for the contest ahead.