Omisore Gets APC Ife Federal Constituency’s Unanimous Backing for 2026 Governorship
*COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE STAKEHOLDERS’ MEETING OF IFE FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY*
Held on Tuesday, August 5th, 2025, at the Country Home of *Senator Iyiola Omisore,* Oduduwa Estate, Ile-Ife
Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the four Local Government Areas of Ife Federal Constituency — Ife Central LGA, Ife East LGA, Ife East Area Office Modakeke, Ife North LGA, and Ife South LGA — convened a crucial meeting on Tuesday, August 5th, 2025, at the Oduduwa Estate country home of *Senator Iyiola Omisore, PhD, FNSE, C.Eng, CON.*
The meeting commenced at 11:00 AM with the presence of respected political leaders and stakeholders across the constituency, including:
-Sooko Adeleke Adewoyin, former Deputy Governor of Osun State (Ife East);
-Engr Bashir Isola Awotorebo, former Minister of Water Resources FRN, Ife East LGA Leader;
-Hon. Abimbola Taofeek Ajilesoro, Member, House of Representatives from Ife Central LGA;
-Alhaji Fatai Kolawole, Ife East Area Office,Modakeke, Leader;
-Chief Johnson Fakunle, Ife South LGA Leader;
-Elder Bankole Akinrinade, Ife North LGA Leader;
-Engr. Tunde Awofisayo, Ife Central LGA Leader;
-Prof. Moses Awogbade, Ife Central LGA Leader;
-Chief Wahab Olatunji Olowoasalu, Ife East Area Office,Modakeke, Leader;
-Alhaji Dauda Akinwole (MAAK-D), Ife East LGA Leader;
-Sooko Lekan Omidiora, Ife East LGA Leader;
Hon. (Comr.) Ayo Olafiranye, Ife East LGA Leader;
-Chief Julius Ajibodu, Ife South LGA Leader;
-Pa Dokun Falaju, Ife Central LGA Leader;
-Dr. Akin Aramide, Ife Central LGA Leader;
-Hon. Folorunso Oladoyin Bamisayemi (Bambam), former Commissioner for Education from Ife South LGA;
-Hon. Wale Ojo, Esq., Ife Central LGA Leader;
-Alhaji Jamiu Olawumi, former SA on Education from Ife Central LGA;
-Hon. Funminiyi Awotide (Akantioke), Ife East LGA Leader;
-Engr. Marcus Adedini, Ife Central;
-Hon. Ayo Olajolo, Esq., Federal Constituency Secretary from Ife Central LGA; among others.
All LGA Council Chairmen, APC Party Chairmen, Councillors, Ward Leaders, Former LGA Council Chairmen, Former State House of Assembly Members and others all from Ife Federal Constituency.
*UNAVOIDABLE ABSENTEES*
Prince Omolade Binuyo from Ife North LGA, Honourable Albert Abiodun Adeogun Esquire from Ife Central LGA, Honourable Rotimi Makinde from Ife East LGA, Sooko Adeyemi Adetise Esquire from Ife Central LGA, Hon. Eludayo Eluyemi from Ife Central LGA, Engr. Benjamin Adereti from Ife Central LGA, and few others were unavoidably absent and they sent their apologies.
The program was anchored by Hon. Ayo Olajolo, Esq., and opened with prayers led by Hon. (Mrs.) Sayo Adesiyan.
Key Discussions and Resolutions:
1. *STRENGTHENING APC AND THE 2026 GUBERNATORIAL RACE*
Hon. Folorunso Bamisayemi delivered a detailed brief on the purpose of the gathering, emphasizing recent strategic gains of APC Osun State predominantly in Osun East, especially with high-profile defections including that of *Hon. Abimbola Ajilesoro from PDP to APC.* He highlighted the importance of zoning and electoral Mathematics in Osun State as Osun East holds the edge in Osun State APC folds currently based on the recent defections of high caliber political office holders with more still expected, referencing Osogbo, Ile-Ife, and Ede as the key voting blocs.
With PDP expected to present a candidate from Ede (the incumbent, Governor Ademola Adeleke), he urged the party to consider zoning its ticket to Ife to maximize strategic advantage. He emphasized that APC’s path to victory lies in leveraging the current political dynamics and public sentiment in favour of Ifeland as a Constituency and in Senator Omisore as a formidable candidate.
2. *ENDORSEMENT OF SENATOR IYIOLA OMISORE*
Speaker after speaker unanimously called on Senator Iyiola Omisore to declare his gubernatorial ambition:
# Hon. Jamiu Olawumi described Omisore as the most prepared and electable leader capable of defeating the Adeleke dynasty in the 2026 Osun State Gubernatorial election.
## Hon. Tunji Owojori moved the motion to adopt *Senator Omisore* as the APC Ife Federal Constituency gubernatorial candidate for 2026, seconded by Hon. Muritala from Ife East.
-Pa Julius Ajibodu pledged Ife South’s full support;
-Hon. Wale Amusan Sakariyau assured massive support from Modakeke;
-Hon. Rufus A. Awotidoye, Chairman of the Forum of APC LG Chairmen in Osun State, gave Ife North’s commitment and called on the entire State to rally behind Omisore; and Alhaji Fatai Kolawole, Prince Funminiyi Awotide (Akantioke), and Hon. Wole Adunola, Osun APC Publicity Secretary, echoed similar calls.
3. *Support from Hon. Abimbola Ajilesoro:*
*The Member representing Ife Federal Constituency, Hon. Abimbola Ajilesoro,* expressed his delight at joining APC and praised *Senator Omisore’s* leadership, referring to himself proudly as the “Honourable representing Senator Omisore’s Federal Constituency.” He declared full support for Omisore’s 2026 gubernatorial bid.
4. *Sooko Adeleke Adewoyin’s Reflections:*
*The former Osun Deputy Governor, Sooko Adeleke Adewoyin,* recalled Omisore’s long-standing aspiration dating back to 1994 and confirmed that the moment has come for Ife to produce the next Governor of Osun State. He assured the gathering of efforts made across key political platforms to support Omisore’s emergence.
*Senator Iyiola Omisore Declares*
In response, *Senator Iyiola Omisore, PhD, FNSE, C.Eng, CON,* formally declared his interest to contest the 2026 Osun State Governorship Election.
He revealed that *President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR* had previously tasked him with ensuring APC’s return to power in Osun when he had hoped the former Governor, *Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola,* would recontest but following his withdrawal, and after wide consultations, he was pushed to the resolve to step forward to lead the charge for Osun’s rescue from what he described as “32 months of misgovernance.” In his words, “after series of statewide pressure by high and low members of the State encouraging me to show interest in the Governorship race and after series of consultation round the State and at this point in time I am overwhelmed and see it as a *CALL TO SERVICE* and hereby joins the race for 2026 Governorship election”
He expressed deep appreciation to the Ife people for their consistent support, pledging to offer purposeful leadership, harness national goodwill, and deliver a prosperous Osun State under the Renewed Hope agenda. Closing prayers were said in the 3 denominational ways viz: Christian, Islamic and Traditional by Hon. Mrs Agnes Oladunjoye from Ife East LGA, Alhaja Adejumo from Ife Central LGA, and Hon. Ayoola Adegboyega ‘Awise’ from Ife East LGA respectively.
*Conclusion:*
The meeting ended on a high note with unanimous endorsement of *Senator Iyiola Omisore* as the preferred aspirant from Ife Federal Constituency for the 2026 gubernatorial race.
*Attendance:*
A total of 491 participants were recorded at the meeting evenly distributed across the LGAs in the Constituency.
Issued this 5th day of August, 2025
e-Signed:
Sooko His Excellency Adeleke Adewoyin, Ife Federal Constituency APC Leadership
Hon. Ayo Olajolo, Esq.
Secretary, Ife Federal Constituency Leadership
Honourable Kayode Akintifombo, Ife East LGA APC Chairman (Chairman of LGA Party Chairmen Ife Federal Constituency)
Honourable Philip Adebiyi, Ife North LGA Chairman
Honourable Goke Aramide, Ife Central LGA APC Chairman ,
Honourable Gbenga Oladokun ‘Baba ‘Sir’, Ife South LGA APC Chairman
Honourable Goke Adebowale, Ife East Area Office, Modakeke, APC Chairman
Honourable Rufus Awotidoye, Chairman of Forum of Osun State APC LGA Chairmen (Ife North (LGA)
