Ahead of Saturday’s Osun State governorship election, elders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have met with former Governor of the state, Chief Bisi Akande, to review the party’s campaign and strategies for the poll.
The meeting was held at Akande’s country home in Ila Orangun on Saturday and was attended by several prominent APC leaders, including the party’s former deputy governorship candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore.
A photograph of Akande and Omisore walking hand-in-hand after the meeting went viral on Sunday, sparking speculation about the nature of their interaction.
However, sources who attended the meeting said the gathering was primarily focused on assessing the APC’s campaign and identifying areas that required further attention ahead of the election.
One of the participants, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly, said the Osun APC Elders’ Caucus reviewed the party’s activities and made recommendations aimed at improving its chances at the polls.
“Many elders of the party were present. The Osun APC Elders’ Caucus reviewed the party’s campaigns so far and made some suggestions,” the source said.
The source also dismissed speculation that Akande and Omisore held a separate private meeting after the gathering.
“No, not to my knowledge. After the meeting, we all left. So I’m unaware of any private meeting between Baba Akande and Senator Omisore,” he said.
The Director-General of the Omisore Campaign Organisation, Ajibola Famurewa, who also attended the meeting, confirmed that the photograph of Akande and Omisore was taken on the occasion.
According to Famurewa, Omisore and Akande proceeded to the former governor’s dining room for lunch after the elders’ meeting.
He explained that Akande later accompanied Omisore to his vehicle, during which they discussed strategies for securing victory for the APC.
“It was after the meeting of the Osun APC Elder Caucus, Agba Osun, at Chief Bisi Akande’s house that Otunba and Baba Akande went to his dining room for lunch. The photograph was taken at the meeting.
“After the lunch, Baba escorted him out to his vehicle, and we had a very reasonable discussion, which was all about what we have to do to win the election. Everybody said what they had in mind,” Famurewa said.
He added that the meeting provided an opportunity for party leaders to assess the campaign and address areas where the APC needed to improve.
“Yesterday, we assessed the whole campaign and highlighted where we think we have issues. He (Omisore) provided solutions, and everyone rubbed minds together, and we arrived at a reasonable conclusion,” he said.
The meeting comes as political parties intensify their final preparations for the Osun governorship election scheduled for Saturday, August 15.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cleared 14 political parties to participate in the election.
The poll is expected to be closely contested, with the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke, seeking another term under the Accord Party, while the APC is among the major opposition parties challenging for control of the state.
