A chieftain of the Accord Party and former Special Adviser on Education to ex-Osun State Governor, Dr. Gboyega Oyetola, Hon. Jamiu Olawumi, has alleged that the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), may emerge as a proxy for the former governor if elected.
Olawumi made the assertion while speaking on Western Spring Television on Thursday, days after formally defecting from the APC to the Accord Party during the flag-off of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s re-election campaign in Osogbo.
The former Oyetola aide said recent developments within the APC suggested that Oyebamiji was attempting to distance himself from the influence of the former governor.
According to him, the omission of Oyetola’s photograph from some of Oyebamiji’s campaign materials was not accidental but a reflection of the political realities within the party.
Olawumi alleged that about 300,000 campaign posters were recently produced with Oyetola’s image included, but were subsequently rejected by the party.
He claimed the decision to reject the materials was informed by concerns over the perception of Oyetola among sections of the electorate in the state.
The Accord Party chieftain further argued that the former governor does not currently enjoy the level of public acceptance required to freely interact with residents across the state.
He maintained that, based on his understanding of the political situation in Osun, Oyebamiji could ultimately serve as a continuation of Oyetola’s political influence if elected governor.
Olawumi’s comments come amid heightened political activities ahead of the August 15, 2026 governorship election in Osun State.
According to him, “”AMBO will be a proxy of Oyetola with all we have seen, although he is trying to wriggle himself out of his grip. It is not by mistake that Oyetola’s picture is not in AMBO’s campaign materials. They printed three hundred thousand posters recently, but the party rejected them because Oyetola’s picture was included. The Oyetola I know cannot even walk through the streets of Osun and wave at the people.”
