Ex-NIWA Boss Bola Oyebamiji Clinches APC Ticket in Osun’s High-Stakes 2026 Guber Race

By Emmanuel Kwada

Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, the immediate past Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), has been unanimously endorsed as the All Progressives Congress (APC) flagbearer for the 2026 Osun State governorship election.

His emergence, forged through a rare consensus among aspirants, signals a strategic pivot for the APC as it gears up to reclaim the Fountain of Unity from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The primary election, held at the APC secretariat in Osogbo, unfolded without the usual acrimony that often shadows such gatherings.

Over 1,660 delegates from Osun’s 30 local government areas and 332 wards converged to affirm Oyebamiji’s candidacy via a resounding voice vote, capping off a process where seven other heavyweight contenders including notable figures like former Deputy Governor Iyiola Omisore voluntarily stepped aside in a nod to party harmony.

The nomination was formally moved by legal luminary Kunle Adegoke, SAN, and seconded by Senator Babajide Omoworare, before the hall erupted in applause.

Presiding over the event as chairman of the APC primary election committee, Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo hailed the seamless proceedings as a “clear signal of victory” for the APC in the off-cycle poll slated for mid-2026.

“This is not just a selection; it’s a mandate from the grassroots,” Okpebholo declared, emphasizing the delegates’ overwhelming support.

The gathering drew star power from across the Southwest, with Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, and Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat in attendance, underscoring the high stakes and national backing for Oyebamiji’s bid.

In his emotional acceptance speech, Oyebamiji—affectionately known as AMBO (Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji)—vowed to “put Osun back on the track of sustainable development.”

A one-time Commissioner for Finance under former Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Oyebamiji reflected on his journey from state service to federal appointment at NIWA, where he championed infrastructure projects along Nigeria’s waterways.

“This is a call to service, not personal glory. Together, we will rebuild Osun’s economy, empower our youth, and restore its pride as the cradle of Yoruba heritage,” he pledged, drawing cheers from the packed venue.