Tinubu Summons 76 Osun APC Leaders Over Ribadu’s Explosive Intelligence Report

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has summoned 76 leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State to the Presidential Villa in Abuja amid concerns over internal disagreements within the party ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

According to reports, the emergency meeting was triggered by an intelligence report allegedly submitted by National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, which raised concerns about dissatisfaction among influential APC leaders in the state.

Sources familiar with the meeting said the report indicated that several party leaders felt excluded from the affairs of the APC and had not been adequately involved in the ongoing campaign for the party’s governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.

The development reportedly prompted President Tinubu to convene the meeting in an effort to resolve the grievances and prevent the internal crisis from affecting the party’s chances at the polls.

A former local government chairman who attended the meeting said Ribadu’s report brought the level of discontent within the Osun APC to the President’s attention.

The source disclosed that Tinubu subsequently directed APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, to coordinate the affected leaders and ensure their attendance at the meeting.

Several APC chieftains reportedly travelled from different parts of the country to Abuja, with some said to have arrived from Ibadan and Lagos on chartered flights.

Among those reportedly present were former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Olubunmi Ete; former Osun State House of Assembly speakers Mojeed Alabi, Adejare Bello and Wale Afolabi; as well as Shuaib Oyedokun, Poju Odusola and Bode Olanipekun.

One of the participants described the meeting as a frank engagement during which party leaders were given an opportunity to present their concerns directly to the President.

According to the participant, about 76 APC leaders attended the meeting, where they reportedly expressed concerns over the manner in which the party was being managed in Osun State.

Some leaders were also said to have complained that several federal appointments allocated to the state had allegedly gone largely to individuals perceived to be close to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy and former Osun State governor, Adegboyega Oyetola.

The aggrieved leaders reportedly urged the President to address what they described as a lack of inclusiveness within the party and expressed concerns about the possible impact of the situation on the governorship election.

In response, Tinubu was said to have appealed to the leaders to put their differences aside and unite behind Oyebamiji, warning that an APC defeat would affect the party collectively rather than any individual faction.

The President reportedly reminded the leaders of the party’s setbacks in the 2022 Osun governorship election and the 2023 general elections, urging them not to allow internal disagreements to undermine the APC’s chances in the forthcoming poll.

Concerns were also reportedly raised over whether an Oyebamiji-led administration would adequately accommodate different factions of the party if the APC wins the election.

Tinubu was said to have assured the leaders that there would be opportunities for party members at both the state and federal levels, while encouraging them to close ranks and work towards the party’s victory.

The meeting was reportedly part of broader efforts to resolve internal disagreements within the Osun APC and strengthen the party’s campaign ahead of the August 15 election.

The Osun APC Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Olabisi, confirmed that the meeting took place but declined to provide further details.

Efforts to obtain comments from Basiru were reportedly unsuccessful, as calls and messages sent to him were not answered.