The immediate past Chairman of the Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Bola Oyebamiji, has emerged as the All Progressives Congress (APC) flagbearer for the Osun State governorship election scheduled for next year.
Oyebamiji clinched the ticket after being affirmed by the party’s 1,660 delegates during the primary election, having been nominated by one of the aspirants, Mr. Kunle Adegoke, SAN, and seconded by another, Senator Babajide Omoworare.
After the nominations, the Chairman of the primary election committee, Governor Monday Okpebholo, called for a voice vote, which resulted in unanimous approval from the delegates.
“By the power conferred on me as Chairman of the primary committee, I hereby declare Bola Oyebamiji, AMBO, as the candidate of our party,” he announced.
Ahead of the primary, the party experienced internal tension following the disqualification of seven aspirants, including a former national secretary of the party, Iyiola Omisore.
The screening committee stated that those disqualified did not meet the requirement of obtaining nominations from party members across all local government areas.
Several aspirants rejected the decision, contending that the guideline was unevenly enforced and that the process was influenced by interests outside Osun State.
As tensions escalated, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the party leader, invited some of the aspirants to Abuja for discussions. While some later indicated that their grievances had been resolved, Omisore remained among the strongest critics of the screening process.
He maintained that the exercise was defective and accused certain individuals of providing the president with incomplete information, stressing, however, that the president should not be held responsible for decisions made based on such briefings.
Oyebamiji, an indigene of Ikire, previously served as Commissioner for Finance under the administrations of former Governors Rauf Aregbesola and Gboyega Oyetola.
Prior to his role as commissioner, Oyebamiji was the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Omoluabi Holdings Limited, formerly known as OSICOL.
In 2023, he served as Special Adviser to Gboyega Oyetola, the pioneer Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, before his appointment as Chief Executive Officer of the National Inland Waterways Authority.
