Osun 2026: APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru Rejects Zoning of Governorship Ticket

The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, has openly rejected the idea of zoning the party’s 2026 governorship ticket in Osun State, asserting that such arrangements are undemocratic and unconstitutional within the APC framework.

In a Facebook post shared on Monday, Basiru — a former senator who represented Osun Central Senatorial District — argued that zoning the ticket to a particular region contradicts the principles of fair competition and inclusivity.

“Zoning is not in our constitution. People should be free to contest. When you insist on zoning, aren’t you going to canvass votes in other zones whose aspirants you have denied?” he questioned.

Basiru emphasized that competence and unity, not regional considerations, should determine candidacy, warning that zoning could alienate other parts of the state whose aspirants are excluded.

His comments come amid growing pressure from some APC stakeholders advocating for the party to zone the 2026 gubernatorial ticket to the Osun West Senatorial District. Reports suggest that the party may be leaning toward a candidate from Osun West, allegedly with the backing of Adegboyega Oyetola, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy and immediate past governor of the state.

Basiru, who lost his Senate seat in 2023 to PDP’s Fadeyi Oluwole Olubiyi, currently serves as the APC’s national scribe — a position he assumed following his tenure in the National Assembly.

As internal consultations and political maneuvering intensify within the Osun APC ahead of the 2026 elections, Basiru’s stance adds a new layer of complexity to the party’s decision-making process.