Tinubu Aide Backs APC Candidate Ahead of Osun Election

(Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi. Photo by Premuim Times)

The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity has publicly endorsed the All Progressives Congress candidate contesting Osun State’s forthcoming governorship election.

Temitope Ajayi expressed his support through social media following a televised town hall featuring candidates competing for the state’s top position on August 15, 2026.

Ajayi evaluated the three candidates APC’s Bola Oyebamiji, the African Democratic Congress’ Najeem Salam, and incumbent Accord Party governor Ademola Adeleke seeking re-election and concluded that Oyebamiji presented the most persuasive argument regarding his capacity for the executive role.

He characterised the election as fundamentally a recruitment exercise for a chief executive capable of managing the state’s financial constraints rather than a selection of public figures or campaigners.

The presidential aide assessed the candidates against metrics of policy articulation, factual command, fiscal realism and managerial competence, determining that Oyebamiji demonstrated superior understanding of governance as an administrative responsibility distinct from political showmanship.

Ajayi cited Oyebamiji’s credentials as former Commissioner for Finance under previous administrations and his banking background, arguing these qualifications positioned him as someone with tangible public financial management experience rather than theoretical rhetoric.

Ajayi criticised Adeleke’s town hall performance as combative and oriented toward attacking predecessors rather than substantiating his administrative achievements.

He contended that a candidate seeking re-election should centre discourse on his record rather than predecessor failings.

Regarding Salam, Ajayi acknowledged the ambition of his policy offerings whilst questioning their financial sustainability.

He warned that expansive government promises lacking credible funding mechanisms would render the state fiscally untenable, cautioning against repetition of unsustainable project patterns.