A former Senior Special Assistant to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly Matters, Senator Babajide Omoworare, has declared that his vision and policy blueprint will transform Osun State’s fortunes if elected governor in the 2026 governorship election.
Omoworare, one of the 13 aspirants seeking the All Progressives Congress ticket for the August 8, 2026, poll, made the declaration in Osogbo on Friday while speaking with journalists.
The former lawmaker, who represented Osun East Senatorial District between May 2011 and May 2019, said his administration would prioritise tourism, agriculture, and education if elected.
“I have this vision and mission to change the narrative of Osun. Government business is the most serious business anyone can think of,” he said.
He added, “Government is not a joke, and it’s not rocket science. Elect a clown and expect a circus. This office isn’t meant for clowns. I have plans for Osun State, covering arts, creative industries, entertainment, tourism, agriculture, education, and infrastructure.”
Speaking on specific projects, Omoworare expressed commitment to completing the Ido-Osun Airport and creating a research hub distinct from an industrial hub.
“We will develop a research hub, similar to one in North Carolina, and seek support for our agricultural initiatives,” he explained.
“By tackling food inflation, we can potentially reduce overall inflation in our state. I have a comprehensive blueprint for Osun and have been developing policy papers for a long time. As an academic, we need to test whether these ideas will work and continue researching,” he added.
As the APC prepares for its primary election, more aspirants have been meeting critical stakeholders to secure their support.
Pinch Online reported on Tuesday that the immediate past Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Mr Timothy Owoeye, led the AMBO Unity Walk — organised by the campaign team of the Managing Director, National Inland Waterways Authority, Mr Bola Oyebamiji — to garner support for his governorship bid.
Speaking after the event, Owoeye said the APC would remain united and work to present a candidate with mass appeal for the 2026 election.
He said, “I want to appreciate the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for giving us this platform to operate as politicians and for leading this country aright.
“If not for his unprecedented performance, we would not have this confidence to walk this far. We embarked on this unity walk to show that APC remains the party to beat in 2026 and the 2027 general elections.
“As a matter of fact, it’s a way to tell the people that Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji remains the aspirant the APC should be looking at come 2026. It’s also a way to unite and bring everybody together in the Osun APC.”
So far, about 13 aspirants have declared interest in the APC ticket and have been touring local governments across the state to meet party loyalists and stakeholders.
Besides Oyebamiji and Omoworare, others in the race include a lawyer and son of the departed Olufi of Gbongan, Dotun Babayemi; immediate past Deputy Governor, Benedict Alabi; Chairman of Mutual Assurance Benefits, Akin Ogunbiyi; and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Kunle Adegoke (SAN).
Meanwhile, as the list of aspirants continues to grow, supporters of the contenders have been trading words on social media, with many using online platforms to promote their preferred aspirants or criticise opponents.
The Punch
