Ajibola Basiru, national secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has withdrawn from the race for the party’s ticket ahead of the 2026 governorship election in Osun.
Basiru announced his decision on Saturday in Osogbo, the state capital, during the inauguration of Alubarika House, the secretariat of his political movement.
The APC national scribe, who had held consultations with party leaders at ward and local government levels, said he made the decision after weighing his responsibilities and engaging stakeholders.
“Considering the enormous responsibilities of my current office as national secretary of our great party and after due consultations with our esteemed leaders and stakeholders, particularly, the leader of our party and president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, it has become necessary to emphatically state that I shall not be contesting the 2026 Osun state governorship election,” he said.
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Basiru said stepping down from the race “does not signify a withdrawal from our shared progressive visions in any way”, adding that it was a renewed pledge to deepen his commitment to continue working with leaders and all members of the Alubarika Movement and the APC in Osun state and Nigeria “to nurture and support emerging political leaders”.
He said Alubarika House would serve as a meeting point for the movement and a venue for empowerment programmes.
He announced a donation of N50 million as a take-off grant for planned initiatives.
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Basiru said the demands of his national assignment, including strengthening the party structure and preparing for the 2027 general election, require his full commitment.
He said the movement would work with “vigour” to support the re-election bid of Tinubu in 2027.
He expressed confidence that the APC would win the 2026 governorship election in the state, saying the party is “too formidable for Governor Ademola Adeleke’s government”.
About 13 aspirants remain in the race for the APC ticket, including Bola Oyebamiji, former managing director of the National Inland Waterways Authority; Babajide Omoworare, former chairman of the senate committee on rules and business; Iyiola Omisore, former deputy governor; and Dotun Babayemi, a lawyer.
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Others include Benedict Alabi, former deputy governor; Akin Ogunbiyi, chairman of Mutual Assurance Benefits; and Kunle Adegoke, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
