A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has described the emergence of a former Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority, Bola Oyebamiji, as the party’s candidate in the forthcoming state governorship election as “a right step towards a victorious outing.”

This was contained in a statement signed by Oyintiloye and made available to journalists in Osogbo, Osun State, on Sunday.

The former lawmaker said Oyebamiji’s emergence through a consensus arrangement should be dedicated to the APC leadership and members, especially other aspirants who stepped down.

He added that the peaceful manner of Oyebamiji’s emergence was an indication of the growth and excellence of character for which the APC is known.

Oyintiloye further said, “With Oyebamiji as the party’s candidate and the APC’s impending victory at the polls, the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu would be translated into good governance in Osun without hitch.

“Having successfully completed the primary, attention should now be on the main poll. Oyebamiji, as our candidate, is a right step towards a victory awaiting the APC.

“We must, however, work hard as a united family with a common purpose for the victory to be achieved.”

He recalled that some prophets of doom had predicted an implosion due to the large number of aspirants who initially indicated interest in the APC ticket, adding that the intervention of party leaders made the process seamless.

Oyintiloye commended President Bola Tinubu, the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda; Chief Bisi Akande; the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola; and others for their guidance and commitment towards a successful primary for the Osun APC.

Urging the APC leadership in the state to further strengthen the party to make victory at the polls less stressful, Oyintiloye noted that, if elected Osun governor, Oyebamiji would lead a people-friendly government and implement programmes and policies that would positively impact the lives of residents.

Recall that Oyebamiji emerged as the APC candidate for the August 8, 2026, governorship election at the party’s primary conducted in Osogbo on Saturday by a committee led by the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpoboholo.

The senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has pledged loyalty to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) despite being approached several times by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking in a recent interview on the Mic On Podcast with Seun Okinbaloye, Akpoti-Uduaghan rejected the idea of defecting amid calls from the ruling party and even her colleagues.

Responding to the APC being an alternative should things not go well with the PDP, the senator responded, “No, I wouldn’t. I was in APC briefly at the start of everything. Why should I go and join APC?

“I don’t have to follow the bandwagon. I don’t have to succumb to any threats or fall for any cajolery.

“I have been approached many times. I have been approached by people from the Presidency, from even my colleagues.

“Even as recently as yesterday, one joked about it: ‘We’re still expecting, we would love to have you.’ And I’m like, I love my space, I love my peace here. I’m okay with my party now, so I don’t think I have to join the APC,” she said.

The Independent National Electoral Commission in Akwa Ibom State has registered 76,534 people in the just-concluded phase one of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise, which ended on December 10, 2025.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Obo Effanga disclosed this in Uyo in a statement issued and signed by the Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity, Bukola Ojeme, on Saturday.

The statement quoted the REC as saying: “During the first phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise between August 25 and December 10, we in INEC Akwa Ibom registered 76,534 in the state.”

Effanga further stated, “From December 15-21, we shall display the preliminary list of registered voters to allow for claims and objections.”

He appealed to registrants to take advantage of the display window to visit the 31 INEC LGA offices to check their personal details for errors, emphasising that the display period also presents an opportunity for claims and objections by citizens to report names that should not be on the register, particularly foreigners and deceased individuals.

The Akwa Ibom REC also announced that the second phase of the exercise will commence on January 5, 2026, saying: “The second phase of the registration will start on January 5, 2026.”

He used the opportunity to wish the people of Akwa Ibom the blessings of Christmas.