Oluwo endorses APC aspirant, says it’s Iwoland’s turn to produce Osun gov

Oluwo of Iwo in Osun State, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, on Tuesday said all communities in Iwoland will support the governorship aspiration of the Chairman, Mutual Benefits Assurance, Akin Ogunbiyi.

Ogunbiyi, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State, who hails from Ileogbo, is one of the 12 aspirants seeking the party’s ticket in the August 8, 2026 governorship poll.

Oba Akanbi, who spoke in his palace in Iwo during a consultation visit by Ogunbiyi, harped on the unity of communities in Iwo Federal Constituency which comprises Ayedire, Olaoluwa and Iwo Local Government Areas.

The royal father further said every Iwo indigene must support Ogunbiyi, being the only aspirant from the Federal Constituency, restating readiness to reach out to other parts of the state for the success of the project.

“Iwo, Ileogbo, Kuta, and other towns in Iwoland are one. We cannot function well in isolation. We must all work together for the progress of our communities.

“Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi is our son in Iwo, and I pray that Almighty God who installs a governor will make him the next governor of Osun State.

“We must all be involved in politics. Every human being must be involved. We don’t have any other person we will support other than our son, Akin Ogunbiyi.  We have nothing and the only way we can salvage the situation is for our children to occupy good positions.

“People have come out to show interest from different places, but since my own son has come out, he is the one I will support. It is the turn of Iwoland to produce the Osun governor.

“When Tinubu came out to contest in 2023, I supported him because he is a Yoruba man and I can’t go for another candidate who is not the son of the soil,” Oluwo said.

Earlier, Ogunbiyi, while addressing the gathering, declared his intention to vie for the Osun Governorship on the platform of APC and asked for the support of the communities under Iwo to realise his ambition.

Ogunbiyi, who said Iwoland has the population to produce a governor, promised to pursue initiatives that would enhance the development of all parts of the State.

Urging Oluwo and other royal fathers in Iwo Federal Constituency to support his aspiration, Ogunbiyi said Federal Constituencies that have fewer voters have managed to produce a governor, noting that the slow pace of development in area was due to the inability of the indigenes to occupy notable positions in government.

The backing that Ogunbiyi’s governorship aspiration received from royal fathers in his Federal Constituency may prove very crucial, as other aspirants for the APC governorship ticket are also mopping up support from stakeholders ahead of the December primary election where the party’s candidate will emerge.

For instance, some notable leaders of the APC in Ila, Boripe and Ayedaade local government areas of the state have declared support for the aspiration of the ex Osun State Commissioner for Finance, Bola Oyebamiji to clinch the ticket of the party in the August 8, 2026 governorship election.

This was contained in a statement made available to the journalists in Osogbo by the Media and Publicity Directorate of the Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji Campaign Organisation.

APC had fixed a primary to select its candidate in the election for December 13, 2026, and a good number of the 12 aspirants that have so far shown interest in the party’s ticket have been visiting LGAs in the state on discuss their ambition with various groups of people and party loyalists.

Addressing APC members who received him during the consultation meeting in Orangun, Oyebamiji, currently serving as the Managing Director l, National Inland Waterways Authority, noted their support and pledged to protect and promote the interests of Osun and its people if entrusted with leadership responsibilities.

“Support me and know that I have no other option than to do well for Osun and its people,” Oyebamiji said.

Responding on behalf of the party in Ila Local Government Area, Joshua Adediji, said despite the high number of aspirants in the race for the APC ticket, stakeholders in the party have resolved to support Oyebamiji’s ambition. (Punch)