Under the All Progressives Congress platform, the Forum of All Local Government Chairmen from the Osun West Senatorial area has demanded that the party’s 2026 gubernatorial ticket be zoned to their area, assuming former governor Adegboyega Oyetola does not run again.
A statement outlining this demand was released following a meeting that was attended by 41 former local government chairmen on Wednesday in Iwo, Osun State.
Aderemi Abbas, the previous chairman of the Irewole Local Government Area, and forty other people signed the statement, which emphasized the importance of fairness and equity in zoning the governorship ticket.
The forum stated that Osun West is the most strategically positioned to guarantee victory for the APC in the next election, adding that the district has been historically disadvantaged in producing a governor from the state’s formation.
“Osun West remains the most suitable and best positioned to win the next governorship election for the APC. Since the creation of the state, our district has not been afforded equal opportunities as other senatorial districts to produce a governor,” they said in the communiqué.
The former chairmen promised to collaborate with neighboring districts in order to field a strong candidate who may unseat Ademola Adeleke, the current governor, in 2026.
“The forum believes in the principle of ‘right of first refusal’ for former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola. However, if he chooses not to contest, the party must ensure that the governorship ticket is zoned to Osun West in the interest of justice, fairness, and equity,” they added.
The communiqué pointed to historical disparities, stating that “Osun East has had eight years in the governorship seat, while Osun Central has enjoyed over 15 years. Osun West has only had the honor of holding the post for five years and six months, in comparison. To address this injustice, zoning the ticket to Osun West is both appropriate and required.
Chief Bisi Akande, the party’s original National Chairman, has been urged to back the APC’s cause by the party’s Osun West leadership.
The district leaders referred to Akande as a “repository of political wisdom” and asked him to support their goal in a congratulatory greeting signed by Akintola Omolaoye, the chairman of the Osun West Senatorial District, on his 86th birthday.
The message read, “Your political experience is a pool of wisdom from which many have drawn inspiration since 1999. We trust in your commitment to fairness, justice, equity, and inclusivity, which are essential for sustaining democratic governance.”
In closing, the communiqué urged Akande to support their district in the event that Oyetola chooses not to run again., The Umuahia
Alex Otti, the governor of Abia State, has promised John Mbata, the newly appointed president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, that the five governors of the South-East states will back him.
Speaking on Tuesday at his Umuehim Nvosi rural home in the Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area, Otti praised Mbata for his honesty, reliability, equity, and openness.
Mbata and Okey Nwadinobi, the Deputy National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, paid Otti a visit to thank the governor for his support during the just finished Ohanaeze Ndigbo elections.
Addressing the gathering, Otti said, “Although the task ahead is not easy, I am confident you will succeed. The seven of us governors have no personal interests. Our focus is the development and unity of our people. If anyone asks you to deviate from this mission, they are out of line.
“This is a time for Ohanaeze to unite our people and provide the leadership needed to safeguard and promote our heritage.”
Otti, who claimed to have known Mbata for a long time, said he was thrilled with Mbata’s rise and that he was the ideal candidate to lead Ohanaeze.
He said, “President-General, I have known you for decades. Just as you spoke kindly about me, I can vouch for you. I know your capacity and what you stand for—consistency, truthfulness, fairness, equity, and transparency.
“I was very pleased when you showed interest in this role. My colleagues and I agreed that someone like you deserves the opportunity, and we are confident you will excel.”
The governor emphasized his conviction that the wellbeing of the people is at the heart of effective leadership. He emphasized the goals of his administration, including expanding development into rural regions, enhancing road infrastructure, and paying workers on time.With a focus on their common objective of promoting harmony and advancement among the Igbo people, Otti gave Mbata the assurance that the governors in the area would back him.
During his speech, Mbata thanked Otti and his fellow governors for their steadfast support, which he said was a major factor in his rise to the position of Ohanaeze President-General.
“Your presence on election day, January 10, underscored the importance you place on the Ohanaeze institution,” Mbata said. He assured the governor that the new Ohanaeze executive would collaborate with the governors to achieve shared goals.
“We will pay an official visit with the new executive team soon, but on a personal level, I felt it was important to express our gratitude and pledge our commitment to consultation, collaboration, and cooperation.
“We are eager to tap into your wealth of experience as a leader well-versed in both the private and public sectors. Your approach and perspective will be invaluable to our mission,” Mbata added.
“Having known you for a long time, I expected nothing less than excellence,” he said, praising Otti for the progress his administration has made in Abia.