Osun APC Chieftain Petitions Akande Over Oyetola’s Alleged Abuse of Office, Partisan Campaigning

 

In a development that underscores the growing tensions within the Osun State chapter of APC, a concerned party stalwart, Bello Ayodele Mufutau of Ward 13, Osogbo Local Government, has petitioned Chief Adebisi Akande, the pioneer interim National Chairman of the APC, over what he describes as the disturbing and destabilising activities of Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, the current State Leader of the party.

 

In the petition dated April 26, 2025, Ayodele Mufutau, an aggrieved member of the APC chronicled alleged conducts of partisanship and abuse of office by Mr. Oyetola, who also serves as the Minister for Marine and Blue Economy. 

According to Mufutau, instead of promoting unity, fairness, and inclusion among party members in line with his exalted position, Mr. Oyetola has been openly championing the gubernatorial ambition of Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, a move he says has left many members dissatisfied, alienated, and disillusioned.

The petitioner highlighted that several other aspirants including Senator Ajibola Basiru, Mr. Benedict Gboyega Alabi, AlhajiBola Oyebamiji, Senator Babajide Omoworare, Prince DotunBabayemi, and Senator Mudashiru Hussein had expressed legitimate interest in contesting the exalted seat of Governor in the 2026 election of Osun state. He stressed that allowing a credible and peaceful nomination process among these aspirants is the surest path to reclaiming Osun State from what he termed the mediocrity and maladministration of Governor Ademola Adeleke and the PDP.

However, he lamented that Mr. Oyetola, who was entrusted with the role of State Leader by the APC Elders' Caucus (IgbimoAgba) during a meeting at Chief Akande’s residence following the party’s 2022 gubernatorial defeat has sadly betrayed the party’s expectations. Instead of offering unbiased leadership, Oyetola, according to the petitioner, has been actively using his influence directly and indirectly to foist Mr. Oyebamiji as the APC’s anointed candidate.

Of particular concern to Mufutau is the fact that even before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) issued the official guidelines for party primaries, Mr. Oyetola has already handed over his personal campaign office, the Ileri OluwaHouse to Mr. Oyebamiji for campaign purposes. He cited an instance where, during a funeral party hosted by Mr. Oyetola, renowned gospel musician Tope Alabi openly campaigned for Mr. Oyebamiji in Mr. Oyetola’s presence, a development that has fuelled discontent within the ranks and files of party members.

further alleged that Mr. Oyebamiji, emboldened by Oyetola's overt support, has been consistently name-dropping Oyetola as the "anointed candidate" of the APC leadership in Osun, thereby unsettling other aspirants and their supporters.

Against this backdrop, Bello Ayodele Mufutau passionately appealed to Chief Akande to urgently intervene and call Mr. Oyetola to order. He warned that if unchecked, these divisive activities could severely undermine the cohesion, unity, and electoral fortunes of the APC in the forthcoming 2026 gubernatorial contest.

 

"I trust in your unwavering commitment to fairness, equity, and the survival of the APC in Osun State," He wrote, concluding his petition with a plea for immediate action to salvage the party from looming internal implosion.

 

The petitioner also copied Engr. Sola Akinwumi, Chairman of Igbimo Agba, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, APC State Chairman, Senator Ajibola Basiru, the National Secretary of the APC and Senator Iyiola Omisore, a former National Secretary of the party.