Some aggrieved leaders of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State have rejected the list of the State Presidential Campaign Council.
The members of the State Executive Committee said the list didn’t follow party guidelines and due process.
They also alleged that the composition lacked inclusiveness required for a campaign structure of such importance.
Conveying these in an official rejoinder on Tuesday, the officials declared their rejection of the list in its present form, warning that the alleged exclusion of key party stakeholders could undermine unity, create unnecessary friction and weaken the party’s preparations for the presidential campaign.
The rejoinder was signed by Wole Adunola, State Publicity Secretary; Deaconess Adesola Ayangbile, Welfare Officer; Rasheed Adeniji, Assistant Organising Secretary; and Abiola Ololade, Ex-Officio member of the APC in Osun State.
Their major dissatisfaction is the omission of several members of the State Working Committee, whom they said should be statutory members of the council under the applicable party guidelines.
They said the exclusion of the recognised party officials raises questions about the process through which the list was compiled, the level of consultation with relevant stakeholders and respect for the established leadership structure of the APC in Osun State.
The officials also punctured the emergence of a different campaign structure despite an earlier presidential directive reportedly naming Governor Ademola Adeleke as the Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council in the state.
They said the governor had subsequently inaugurated a broad-based campaign team to coordinate the presidential campaign across Osun State, making the appearance of another structure without adequate clarification a source of concern.
The statement noted that the relationship between the existing campaign team and the newly released list remained unclear, warning that the lack of proper alignment could result in confusion, duplication of responsibilities and avoidable disagreements within the party.
The officials, however, suggested that the controversy might be less pronounced if the newly released list was intended for a Parliamentary Campaign Council rather than the Presidential Campaign Council.
They implored the party leadership to clarify the purpose of the list and establish the appropriate structure to prevent further confusion and ensure effective coordination of campaign activities.
Reaffirming the import of the State Executive Committee in the party’s organisational framework, the officials insisted that it should not be sidelined in the constitution of a state-wide campaign council.
They maintained that a successful presidential campaign required mutual respect, strategic coordination and the active participation of legitimate party stakeholders, adding that no recognised party official should be excluded from a process designed to mobilise members and supporters.
The aggrieved officials demanded an immediate review of the published list, with consultations involving relevant stakeholders, including the National Secretary of the party, Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru, and the State Director-General of the campaign council.
They said such consultations would help ensure that the final composition reflects the party’s established guidelines, respects its leadership structure and promotes effective coordination among the various campaign organs.
Expressing concern over the development, the officials stressed that their position should not be interpreted as a lack of commitment to the APC or its presidential candidate, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Our commitment to the APC and the success of our presidential candidate remains unwavering. However, party loyalty should not prevent constructive engagement when decisions risk creating avoidable divisions and weakening our collective efforts,” the statement said.
They urged the appropriate party authorities at both the state and national levels to address the concerns without delay and make the necessary corrections to the list.
The officials emphasised that the party needed a campaign council that respected established structures, recognised legitimate leadership and accommodated critical stakeholders to strengthen its chances of electoral victory.
They warned that the task ahead required unity, discipline, strategic coordination and collective responsibility, insisting that the campaign council must serve as a unifying platform rather than a source of internal division.