A prominent loyalist of former Osun State Deputy Governor and ex-National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Iyiola Omisore, Yemi Lawal, has declared that he cannot openly campaign for the APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, because he is yet to be convinced about the candidate’s vision for the people of Osun State.
Lawal, an APC Chieftain and former Commissioner for youths and sports, who also served as the deputy governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2018 Osun governorship election, made the remarks while speaking on the political situation in the state and the performance of the current administration.
In comments already stirring reactions across the Osun political landscape, the APC chieftain openly commended the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke, saying the government has made significant impact in the lives of residents through infrastructure development and other people-oriented policies.
“The present administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke is doing well. They have done well with infrastructure and many other things,” Lawal said.
He went further to personally acknowledge the impact of the administration on ordinary citizens, particularly retirees and people at the grassroots.
“Governor Ademola Adeleke has done well. He has positively touched the lives of the people of the state. My mum is a retiree, and even in my local government, Isokan, we have never had it this good,” he added.
Despite belonging to the opposition APC, Lawal maintained that political support must be based on conviction, competence, and a clear understanding of what a candidate intends to offer the people.
“I can’t stand in front of everybody to tell them to vote for Bola Oyebamiji because I am not convinced. I haven’t had a one-on-one meeting with him. I don’t know what he has for the people,” he stated.
The remarks are being viewed by political observers as a significant development within the Osun APC, especially coming from a known ally of Omisore, one of the influential political figures in the state.
Analysts believe the comments reflect growing concerns among some stakeholders within the party over the need for stronger engagement, a clearly defined agenda, and more grassroots connection ahead of the next governorship election.
Lawal’s position also underscores the increasing shift toward issue-based politics in Osun State, where voters and political stakeholders are beginning to place greater emphasis on performance, governance, and practical impact rather than party loyalty alone.
With political activities already gaining momentum ahead of the next electoral cycle, the development is expected to intensify conversations within the APC over strategy, unity, and the ability of its candidate to inspire confidence among party loyalists and the electorate at large.
He also served as Deputy Editor at Sahara Reporters Sports and worked as Content Manager for the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL), contributing significantly to sports journalism and digital content development in Nigeria.
Known for his strong storytelling ability and editorial expertise, Olayinka Olawole has covered a wide range of subjects, while also building a reputation in digital storytelling, audience engagement, and content optimisation for online and media platforms.
