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Osun election: How Oyebamiji lost to Osun APC internal power struggle

Funso Olojo, Editor 

The defeat of Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji in the August 15th, 2026  Osun governorship election may ultimately be remembered as more than a failure at the ballot box.

It was, in many respects, the latest chapter in the long-running struggle for control, influence and political direction within the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Oyebamiji fought a formidable campaign and came within striking distance of Governor Ademola Adeleke.

But when the votes were finally counted, Adeleke emerged with 511,067 votes against Oyebamiji’s 444,815, winning by 66,252 votes and taking 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while the APC candidate won 11.

For a party that entered the contest determined to reclaim Osun, the result raises a painful question: Did the APC lose the election at the polling booths—or did it lose vital ground much earlier, in the battles within its own ranks?

The evidence suggests that the answer is a combination of both.

The ghost of 2022

The greatest weakness of Osun APC has always been its inability to completely bury its internal wars.

The party’s 2022 experience remains instructive. The feud between the camps associated with former Governor Gboyega Oyetola and former Governor Rauf Aregbesola fractured the APC before the election.

Political analysts subsequently identified the division within the party as one of the factors that contributed to Oyetola’s defeat by Adeleke.

Four years later, the APC entered another election under the shadow of unresolved factional relationships.

This time, the principal fault lines included the longstanding rivalry involving Oyetola and former deputy governor and former APC National Secretary, Iyiola Omisore.

By mid-2026, the party was still making efforts to reconcile the two camps. A peace meeting reportedly brokered by former APC National Chairman Bisi Akande was held to resolve the lingering rift between Omisore and Oyetola.

That fact alone was significant.
A political party preparing for a major governorship election should ideally be discussing how to defeat its opponent, mobilise voters and sell its candidate.

Instead, substantial political energy was still being expended on reconciling influential actors within the party.

Oyebamiji inherited a fractured and divided house. Oyebamiji himself was not necessarily the cause of the crisis.

Indeed, he emerged as the APC’s consensus candidate after an internal process in which he was widely regarded as acceptable across several political interests within the party.

His candidacy therefore offered the APC an opportunity to put its factional history behind it.

But choosing a consensus candidate and building a genuinely united political machine around him are two different things.

The APC needed all its major blocs to translate their individual structures into one coordinated campaign organisation.

The challenge was not simply getting party leaders to appear together at rallies. It was ensuring that their supporters, ward leaders, local government structures and grassroots networks were equally committed to the same candidate.

That is where the war within became electorally consequential.

The Omisore question

Few issues illustrated the APC’s internal dilemma more clearly than the place of Omisore in the campaign.

Omisore remained an important political figure in Osun APC, but reports of defections by some of his associates raised questions about the extent of his influence and whether the party had successfully integrated all its competing tendencies ahead of the election.

In June, THISDAY reported the resignation of Kolawole Ismaila, described as one of the strong pillars in Omisore’s camp.

Other reports similarly documented defections and resignations from the APC as the election approached.

For an opposition party trying to unseat an incumbent, every prominent defection mattered—not necessarily because one politician alone could determine an election, but because defections could signal deeper dissatisfaction among networks of ward leaders, local organisers and grassroots loyalists.

The danger was that the APC could appear united at the top while remaining fragmented below.

A party fighting yesterday’s battles

The deeper problem was structural.
Osun APC spent years fighting over who controlled the party, who should determine its leadership and which political tendency should dominate its affairs.

That history did not disappear merely because the party selected Oyebamiji.

Indeed, earlier in 2026, THISDAY described the Osun APC as a party “fighting itself”, with its internal disagreement becoming a major political issue ahead of the election.

The irony is striking.
Oyebamiji was campaigning to reclaim the Government House from Adeleke, but the APC itself had not completely resolved the struggle for ownership of the political house.

That distinction matters in Nigerian elections, where victory is often determined not only by the popularity of a candidate but by the efficiency of the party’s grassroots machinery.

Adeleke exploited what APC left unresolved
While the APC wrestled with internal cohesion, Adeleke had an important advantage: incumbency and an established grassroots political structure.

The election ultimately became a battle between a governor seeking another term and an opposition candidate attempting to build a coalition broad enough to remove him.

Oyebamiji ran a competitive race. But defeating an incumbent in Osun required more than an attractive candidate and federal backing.

It required an exceptionally disciplined statewide machine.

The APC had federal visibility and national political weight. But Adeleke had the advantage of incumbency, local visibility and a political family whose influence remains deeply rooted in Osun politics.

The result showed the limits of federal political leverage when it is not matched by complete grassroots cohesion.

The numbers tell the story
The final figures make the defeat difficult to dismiss as a narrow accident.

Adeleke’s 511,067 votes represented a substantial statewide mobilisation.

Oyebamiji’s 444,815 votes were also significant and demonstrated that the APC remained a powerful force in Osun.

But the 66,252-vote gap was large enough to show that the APC still had considerable work to do before it could translate its strength into victory.

The geographical spread was equally revealing.

Adeleke carried 19 LGAs, while Oyebamiji won 11.

The APC was therefore not annihilated. It was beaten by an incumbent who was able to assemble a broader electoral coalition.

That distinction is important because it means the APC’s defeat was not simply a rejection of Oyebamiji.

Rather, the result suggests that the party had the capacity to compete but failed to convert that capacity into the winning coalition required to capture the state.

The lesson from 2022 was not fully learned.
Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of the defeat is that the warning signs had been visible.

In 2022, the APC lost the governorship amid bitter internal divisions. Analysts explicitly linked the party’s internal crisis to its electoral setback.

In 2026, the party again entered an election with questions about internal cohesion.

There were even public calls from within the party for unity.

In May, APC chieftain Olatunbosun Oyintiloye said unity among party members was crucial to securing victory in the August 15 election.

That warning now looks prophetic.
The party apparently understood the problem. What it struggled to achieve was a sufficiently deep and lasting solution.

It would be unfair to blame everything on the APC crisis.

Yet attributing Oyebamiji’s defeat entirely to internal APC politics would be too simplistic.
Elections are multidimensional.

Adeleke’s performance as incumbent mattered. His campaign strategy mattered. His political network mattered.

Voter perceptions of the state government mattered. The candidates’ individual appeal mattered. Local political calculations mattered.

The election was also fought in an environment characterised by intense political competition, defections, court battles, accusations and counter-accusations.

There was also the presence of the ADC’s Najeem Salam, who competed for the same broad political space and potentially affected the distribution of opposition votes.

Therefore, the APC’s internal crisis should be seen not as the only reason for defeat, but as a force that weakened the party’s ability to maximise its other advantages.

The painful irony of the campaign

Perhaps the greatest irony is that Oyebamiji had entered the race as a unifying figure.
His emergence was meant to provide the APC with a candidate around whom the different tendencies could rally.

He was not carrying the baggage of the old political wars in the same way as some of the party’s older combatants.

But a candidate can only unite a party to the extent that the party’s leaders are prepared to subordinate personal ambitions to collective victory.

That appears to have been the central challenge.

The APC needed its leaders to make Oyebamiji’s victory bigger than their individual political calculations.

The result suggests that the process was incomplete.The real loser may be the old APC structure.

Oyebamiji has lost the governorship election, but the larger question concerns the future of Osun APC.

The party remains competitive. Its candidate secured 444,815 votes—an impressive figure that shows the APC cannot be dismissed in Osun politics.

But the defeat has exposed a fundamental weakness. The APC cannot continue to approach every governorship election as another contest between old factions.

If the party wants to win in Osun in the January Presidential election and other future elections, it must move from factional politics to institutional politics.

That means building a party structure in which ward leaders matter as much as political godfathers; where defeated aspirants genuinely work for the candidate; where former office holders do not operate parallel structures; and where reconciliation happens months before an election—not weeks before polling day.

Oyebamiji’s defeat is therefore a warning.
The APC’s problem in Osun is not a shortage of politicians.

It is a shortage of political cohesion.
The party has influential personalities, experienced former governors, ministers, senators, former national officers and a large grassroots base.

Yet these assets become liabilities when they are deployed in competing directions.

The August 15 election has once again demonstrated a brutal rule of Nigerian politics: A divided opposition can have the better candidate and still lose to an incumbent.

Oyebamiji came close. But close was not enough.

Adeleke’s 511,067 votes against Oyebamiji’s 444,815 have now written another chapter in Osun’s political history.

For the APC, the message from the electorate is unmistakable.

The party cannot keep fighting yesterday’s battles and expect to win tomorrow’s election.

If Osun APC fails to settle its internal wars, rebuild trust among its factions and create a genuinely united grassroots structure, the defeat of Oyebamiji may not be remembered as an isolated electoral setback.

It could become a pattern.
And that would make the real casualty of the August 15 election not Bola Oyebamiji alone but the APC’s unfinished struggle to become a truly united political force in Osun.

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Africa to the World: AITEC World launches globally at WTM London, urges stronger Africa-World tourism partnership

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The African International Tourism and Entertainment Council (AITEC World) has officially launched on the global stage at the World Travel Market (WTM) London, calling for stronger international partnerships, collaboration and investment to unlock Africa’s vast tourism potential.

The global launch, held on Wednesday, November 4th, 2026, at the South Gallery, Room 20, ExCeL London, United Kingdom, brought together African tourism stakeholders, government representatives, tour operators, investors and media organisations participating in the international tourism marketplace.

The event marked the Council’s third major unveiling, following its regional launch in Abuja and continental launch in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Headlining the event was AITEC World’s Global Adviser and Honorary Senior Special Adviser on Culture and Tourism to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Nkereuwem Onung, who challenged the international tourism community to move beyond conventional destination marketing and embrace investment-driven partnerships with African countries.

Speaking on the theme, “Come. Connect. Collaborate. Invest,” Onung described the message as a strategic call to action for building stronger tourism relationships between Africa and the rest of the world.

He explained that while the Abuja launch was designed to connect Nigeria and the Addis Ababa event to unite the continent, the London launch was intended to establish a stronger bridge between African destinations and the global tourism market.

“We launched regionally in Abuja to connect Nigeria. We launched continentally in Addis Ababa to connect Africa. Today, we launch globally here in London to connect Africa to the World and the World to Africa,” he said.

Addressing concerns about accessibility to African destinations, Onung rejected the perception that the continent was difficult to reach, insisting that Africa already possessed the necessary transportation and digital infrastructure to support international tourism.

According to him, the real challenge was no longer physical connectivity but the need to build meaningful relationships and partnerships capable of translating the continent’s tourism resources into economic opportunities.

“Africa is connected. From Uyo, where I arrived from a few days ago, to London where I am today, it is six hours. We have airports, we have seaports, we have fibre optics. What we need is not connection of cables, but connection of minds,” he stated.

Onung also spotlighted Akwa Ibom State’s tourism potential, citing its 129-kilometre Atlantic coastline, Ibeno Beach, the Oron Museum, which houses some of Africa’s oldest wood carvings, and the hospitality of its people.

He said the state, under Governor Umo Eno, was open to international partnerships and investment, adding that ongoing infrastructure development was positioning it to attract more visitors and tourism investors.

Making a strong case for genuine collaboration, the AITEC World adviser urged international tour operators and investors to see Africa as a destination for business partnerships and product development rather than merely a place for sightseeing.

“Africa does not need pity tourism. Africa needs partnership tourism. Do not come to Africa to take pictures of poverty. Come to Africa to build products with us. Collaborate with our tour operators, our museums, our cultural festivals,” he declared.

He explained that such partnerships would stimulate employment, strengthen local enterprises, promote cultural institutions and improve the economic wellbeing of host communities.

Describing AITEC World as a council rather than a travel agency, Onung said the organisation was established to bridge the gap between African tourism destinations and international markets.

He argued that increased tourist arrivals alone would not deliver the full economic benefits of tourism unless accompanied by investments in infrastructure, cultural assets and tourism enterprises.

“Visit is good. But investment is better. Africa has 1.4 billion people, 60 per cent under 25. The future of global tourism is African. The world will come to Africa because Africa has what the world no longer has: authentic culture, untapped destinations and natural warmth,” he added.

He identified investments in Akwa Ibom’s tourism and supporting infrastructure, including Arise Park, Ibom Hotels and the state’s road network, as evidence of the state’s readiness to engage international partners.

Using a colourful analogy towards the end of his address, Onung likened African tourism to a hidden Manchester United trophy in a London home, arguing that the continent’s immense tourism potential remained largely underappreciated despite its rich cultural and natural heritage.

He maintained that Africa was ready not only to showcase its tourism attractions but also to invite the international community to participate in developing them.

“Africa is not just inviting the world to visit. Africa is inviting the world to partner, to participate, and to prosper,” he said.

Also speaking, the Director-General of the Nigeria Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), Mr. Ola Awakan, called for greater unity and collaboration among African tourism stakeholders, stressing that the continent could achieve more through collective action.

Awakan advocated a strategic approach to developing a sustainable cultural tourism economy that transcends national boundaries.

“I believe in the philosophy of togetherness and unity, key ingredients to personal growth and national development. Our industry must adopt a strategic process to sustain the vision of African cultural tourism economy across our borders. I must commend the President of AITEC for this great initiative,” he said.

Similarly, the immediate past President of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) and Deputy President of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), Mrs. Susan Akporiaye, stressed the need for practical action plans to transform Africa’s tourism potential into measurable economic gains.

Akporiaye cautioned against relying on elaborate declarations without concrete implementation, noting that the international community was watching how African countries and industry stakeholders would translate their cultural and tourism assets into viable investment opportunities.

Meanwhile, the President of the National Association of Tour Operators (NATOP), Mrs. Bolaji Mustapha, reaffirmed her association’s commitment to positioning Nigeria as a competitive destination in the global tourism market.

She said NATOP would continue to leverage strategic platforms and international partnerships to attract more tourists to Nigeria.

Mustapha also commended AITEC World President, Mr. Dine Bouraima, for his commitment to establishing a continental platform for advancing cultural tourism.

At the event, NATOP unveiled its Nigerian Tourism Passport, a handbook showcasing major tourist destinations across the country.

The publication, designed in Nigeria’s national colours and bearing the country’s identity, attracted the attention of the NTDA Director-General, who commended the association for its initiative and efforts to promote domestic tourism.

Awakan, however, expressed the desire for similar initiatives to incorporate the input and endorsement of the national tourism authority as a way of strengthening institutional collaboration and ensuring greater coordination within the industry.

Earlier, AITEC World President, Mr. Dine Bouraima, welcomed participants and reiterated the need for Africa to take greater ownership of its tourism narrative and give its cultural assets stronger visibility in the global marketplace.

Bouraima said the Council’s previous unveiling in Abuja had demonstrated Nigeria’s diplomatic and economic relevance within Africa and the wider international community.

He called on African governments, development partners and international donor agencies to support AITEC World’s vision of expanding the global visibility of African cultural tourism while creating opportunities for international engagement, collaboration and investment.

AITEC World is a global council dedicated to connecting Africa with international markets through tourism, culture, entertainment and investment partnerships. It seeks to provide a platform for cooperation between African destinations and global stakeholders to promote the continent’s tourism resources and facilitate sustainable economic opportunities.

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Oyetola leads Nigeria’s delegation to IMO Council meeting in London, reaffirms commitment to maritime safety

Gloria Odion, Maritme reporter 

Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola,  is leading a high-level Nigerian delegation to the 138th session of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council in London, reaffirming the country’s commitment to strengthening global maritime governance and promoting safe, secure and sustainable international shipping.

The five -day meeting, which commenced on November 2 and ends on November 6, 2026, at the IMO headquarters in London, brings together representatives of member states to deliberate on critical issues affecting international shipping, maritime security, seafarers’ welfare and the future of the global maritime industry.

Nigeria’s participation as a Category C member of the 40 member IMO Council reflects its determination to play an active role in shaping international maritime policies while advancing the interests of developing maritime nations.

Oyetola’s participation comes at a critical time as the Council considers strategic measures to protect essential international shipping routes, improve the welfare of seafarers, strengthen institutional governance and advance environmental sustainability across the maritime sector.

Speaking on Nigeria’s participation, the minister reiterated the country’s commitment to working with other maritime nations and international partners to address emerging challenges confronting the global shipping industry.

He noted that effective international cooperation, stronger regulatory frameworks and collective action remained essential to ensuring a safer and more sustainable maritime environment.

“Nigeria recognises that the challenges confronting the global maritime industry require collective action, stronger international cooperation and effective regulatory frameworks.

“We are at the IMO Council to ensure that Nigeria’s interests are represented while contributing meaningfully to solutions that will strengthen maritime security, protect seafarers and promote sustainable shipping,” Oyetola said.

One of the major issues on the Council’s agenda is the protection of vital international shipping lanes, particularly against increasing security threats and attacks on commercial vessels operating in high risk maritime regions.

Under Agenda Item 11, which addresses the protection of vital shipping routes, Nigeria is expected to leverage its experience in combating piracy and other maritime crimes in the Gulf of Guinea to support stronger international collaboration and coordinated security measures.

Oyetola maintained that Nigeria’s progress in improving maritime security demonstrates the importance of sustained cooperation among coastal states, international organisations and relevant maritime stakeholders.

“Our experience in the Gulf of Guinea has shown that maritime insecurity can be addressed through political commitment, effective coordination and cooperation among regional and international partners.

Nigeria will continue to support initiatives that safeguard shipping routes and protect seafarers and maritime assets,” he stated.

The welfare and protection of seafarers also feature prominently in the Council’s deliberations, particularly following IMO Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez’s condemnation of the use of seafarers as pawns in geopolitical disputes.

Nigeria is supporting measures to prevent the arbitrary detention and abandonment of seafarers while promoting their fair treatment, safe repatriation and mental well being.

The minister emphasised that seafarers remain central to the smooth operation of international trade and must be protected from the consequences of geopolitical tensions and conflicts.

“Seafarers are the lifeblood of international shipping.

“Their safety, dignity and welfare must never be compromised by geopolitical tensions.

“Nigeria supports stronger international measures to protect maritime workers and ensure that their rights are respected,” he said.

The Council is also reviewing financial allocations for the 2026–2027 biennium, alongside strategic priorities for the 2028–2029 period.

The deliberations provide Nigeria with an opportunity to advocate increased technical cooperation, institutional development and capacity building support for emerging maritime economies.

Oyetola stressed the need for stronger international partnerships that would enable developing maritime nations to translate global maritime policies into tangible economic and developmental benefits.

He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to building a competitive and sustainable Blue Economy, noting that access to technical expertise, institutional support and investment opportunities would be essential to strengthening the participation of developing countries in the global shipping industry.

“Nigeria is committed to building a competitive and sustainable Blue Economy.

We believe that developing maritime nations must have access to the technical expertise, institutional support and investment opportunities required to participate meaningfully in the evolving global shipping industry,” the minister added.

The Nigerian delegation accompanying Oyetola to the IMO Council meeting includes the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Mrs Fatima Mahmood; Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dayo Mobereola; Director of Maritime Services, Mr Oyinloye Adeola Meshack; and Nigeria’s Alternate Permanent Representative to the IMO, Mr William Bwala.

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Apapa Customs records ₦302.9bn revenue in October as Mu’azu intensifies trade facilitation reforms.

Gloria Odion, Maritme reporter 

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, has generated ₦302.95 billion in revenue for October 2026, representing an increase of ₦20.16 billion over the ₦282.79 billion collected in September.

The October revenue performance reflects a 7.13 per cent month on month increase and marks another significant milestone for the Command, following its record collection of over ₦323 billion in July 2026.

The development also highlights the Command’s sustained commitment to revenue generation,operational efficiency and trade facilitation under the leadership of its new Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Murtala Mu’azu, who assumed duty on September 29, 2026.

Since taking over the Command, Mu’azu has placed considerable emphasis on stakeholder collaboration, improved service delivery and operational reforms in line with the policy direction of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, anchored on Consolidation, Collaboration and Innovation.

As part of this approach, the CAC convened a stakeholder engagement meeting on October 5th, 2026, bringing together importers, exporters, licensed customs agents, shipping companies and terminal operators to address operational challenges affecting port activities.

Discussions at the meeting centred on issues such as delays in the issuance of Demand Notices, cargo clearance bottlenecks and other concerns affecting the smooth movement of goods through the port.

Beyond the meeting, Mu’azu has embarked on courtesy visits to key stakeholders and strategic partners within the port community to strengthen institutional relationships, promote mutual understanding and encourage greater cooperation towards improving the business environment for traders and other port users.

In a further move to improve operational efficiency, the Apapa Area Command has intensified efforts to review and streamline the processing of Transire, with the objective of eliminating unnecessary bureaucratic procedures, strengthening interdepartmental coordination and reducing processing time without compromising regulatory compliance.

Mu’azu explained that the reform was designed to address avoidable administrative delays and ensure that officers involved in the process discharge their responsibilities more efficiently.

He said the Command was committed to identifying operational challenges and implementing practical solutions that would improve service delivery and make legitimate trade less cumbersome.

He emphasised that,traders should not be made to bear the consequences of avoidable administrative lapses or delays, stressing the need for officers to adopt a more responsive and efficient approach to their responsibilities.

The CAC further emphasised that improving trade facilitation remained a major priority, noting that addressing operational inefficiencies would contribute to seamless business transactions and a more business-friendly port environment.

To further accelerate cargo clearance, Comptroller Mu’azu has directed officers to ensure that cargo examinations are conducted strictly in accordance with established procedures, relevant documentation and the required authorisations.

He warned against unnecessary, repetitive and unwarranted examinations capable of frustrating legitimate business activities and prolonging cargo clearance processes.

The CAC charged officers to carry out their duties promptly and professionally, while maintaining the necessary standards of compliance, revenue protection and national security.

The directive, according to the Command, is aimed at improving cargo turnaround time, strengthening operational transparency and creating a more predictable trading environment in line with the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.

The Command is also strengthening collaboration among relevant departments and port stakeholders to identify and resolve operational challenges affecting cargo movement.

Meanwhile, the Command has sustained its enforcement activities with the interception of 437 sachets of Cannabis Sativa weighing 392.5 kilogrammes in two separate containers during the period under review.

The seized consignments comprised 162 sachets weighing 125 kilogrammes in container number MSKU0486747 and 275 sachets weighing 267.5 kilogrammes in container number TEMU6149358.

The combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the intercepted narcotics stands at ₦196,131,606.82.

The seizures were recorded during joint examinations conducted with relevant sister agencies, underscoring the Command’s determination to prevent the use of Nigeria’s maritime gateway for the movement of prohibited substances and other illicit goods.

The operation also reinforces the Service’s commitment to protecting public health, strengthening border security and combating activities capable of undermining national security.

Reaffirming the Command’s commitment to its statutory responsibilities, the Apapa Area Command said it would continue to consolidate its revenue performance, strengthen enforcement operations and deepen stakeholder partnerships to improve port efficiency.

Under Mu’azu’s leadership, the Command is pursuing a balanced operational strategy that prioritises revenue generation, regulatory compliance and national security while promoting legitimate trade, improving cargo clearance and supporting economic growth.

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