Osun 2026: Badmus dissociates self from group recommending his candidature
The Executive Director of Marine and Operations at the Nigerian Ports Authority, Engr. Olalekan Badmus, has dissociated himself from a statement credited to a faceless group calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on their preference of his candidacy for the position of Governor in Osun state come 2026.
Our correspondent gathered that a group within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun named ‘Otoge,’ had at its first meeting in Osogbo on Wednesday night, rejected the candidacy of former governor now Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, if he decides to contest the 2026 governorship election in the state, noting that its ambition will further put the party in jeopardy, and then promised to report him to President Bola Tinubu.
The group was said to have recommended either the National Secretary of the APC, Dr. Ajibola Basiru or the Executive Director, Marine and Operations of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Engr. Lekan Badmus as candidates ahead of the 2026 contest.
But Badmus, in a statement he personally signed and made available to journalists in Osogbo on Thursday, restated his commitment to the party and loyalty to his principal, Oyetola saying that the statement by the group was a tissues of lie emanated from mischief makers.
He said: “It has come to my attention that a fictitious and faceless group has called on our Grande Leader, His Excellency President Bola Tinubu on their preference of my candidacy for the position of Governor in Osun State in 2026.
“I wish to state unequivocally that such tactics by mischief makers is not only cheap but myopic, bearing in mind that in Osun today, there is only one leader, who happens to be my principal, mentor and benefactor, in person of His Excellency Alhaji Isiaka Adegboyega Oyetola.
“If at any point in time the party wishes to select a flag bearer, there are process to follow and never in my style would I encourage any form of disloyalty to the party and our leaders.
“I once again want to dissociate myself from the said group, its organ and activities as they are not only unrecognized by our party, All Progressives Congress, but has also embarked on a wild goose chase to soil my name and reputation.
“I must emphasize at this point that I am more committed to the success of my party and that of my Principal, His Excellency Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy.
“Let it be on record that the tissues of lies are a product of mischief, packaged by mischief makers playing politics of incendiary. I am a mentee to His Excellency Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola and that status still remains.”
