Shina Abubakar, Osogbo

As the agitation for the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun State to zone its governorship ticket to the Osun-West senatorial district thickens, a group within the party has disclosed that the zone remains the party’s stronghold.

Several groups within the state APC have been canvassing and zoning the ticket to the west senatorial district. In contrast, others wanted it to be thrown open if the former governor, Adegboyega Oyetola refused to contest again.

Amid the agitation, the Coordinator of Osun West Solidarity Forum, OWSF, a Financial Secretary of APC in Egbedore local government on Monday disclosed that despite that the party lost the last governorship poll in 2018, it won big in the area.

He said if the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola refused to contest in 2026, then leadership should zone the ticket to Osun West district.

His words, “Since 1999, APC has governed the state for 16 years, and Osun West has not governed a day. Therefore, the call for a political shift to Osun West in 2026 has reached a crescendo for fairness and equity.

“Despite that PDP picked its candidate from Osun West in the last two guber elections, APC won 6 out of 10 local government areas. If APC could give our district the ticket, the 2026 election will be a walkover for the party”.

A leader of the party in the senatorial district, Gafari Sabitu adds, “We appeal to the leadership of the party at the state and national level, particularly President Bola Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, APC’s National Chairman, to graciously consider the bid of the Osun West senatorial district to solely present the party’s Candidate in 2026 to give the large followership of the progressive ideals a sense of belonging.”