...Yemi Lawal's revelations expose internal fractures as aggrieved stakeholders warn that the political force that delivered 2018 could determine the outcome of August 15, 2026
By Babawale Jamiu Popoola
Fresh indications of widening cracks within the Osun chapter of the APC have emerged following a series of revealing interviews granted by former Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Hon. Lawal Azeez Olayemi, popularly known as Yemi Lawal, on Westernspring Television.
The interviews have generated intense political discussions across Osun State, particularly because Yemi Lawal is widely regarded as one of the closest political associates of former National Secretary of the APC, Senator Iyiola Omisore.
Throughout the interviews, Lawal painted the picture of a party increasingly consumed by internal distrust, exclusion and what many observers now describe as a growing war between the Oyetola bloc and the Omisore political family.
At one point during the interview, Lawal openly questioned the internal direction of the party.
"This is not the best way to run a political party, so we are just going to fold our hands and be looking at them."
That statement alone carried the weight of silent rebellion.
The most explosive moment, however, came when the interviewer asked him a direct question regarding the APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO.
Interviewer: "Can you, in good conscience, ask people to vote for AMBO in 2026?"
Lawal's response was blunt and unambiguous.
"I can't stand before anybody to ask them to vote for AMBO because I don't know what he represents and I am not convinced about his plans for the people."
For many political observers, that single statement represented more than personal opinion. It amounted to a public vote of no confidence from a former member of the Oyetola administration and a prominent APC stakeholder.
Lawal further revealed that his efforts to renovate the Osun Stadium during his tenure as Commissioner for Youth and Sports were allegedly frustrated by the same Bola Oyebamiji while serving as Commissioner for Finance.
"When I wanted to renovate the stadium, it was stopped by Bola Oyebanji AMBO, who was then the Commissioner for Finance."
The allegation has reopened conversations about the abandoned state of sports infrastructure in Osun and raised fresh questions about the role played by key actors within the previous administration.
The interviews also reignited the ongoing political battle between Omisore's camp and supporters of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola.
Former Chief Press Secretary to Oyetola, Ismail Omipidan, had recently dismissed Omisore's political relevance, describing him as an outsider within the progressive family.
"Iyiola Omisore is an outcast within the progressive family. Former Governor Gboyega Oyetola revived his political career."
Omipidan also claimed that Omisore and his followers are political wanderers.
"Omisore and his followers are political jobbers. They left the PDP to join the SDP, where they later joined the APC. I can tell you authoritatively that they are on their way to Accord."
But supporters of Omisore view such remarks as evidence of growing panic within the APC establishment.
The situation became even more politically damaging when Lawal reportedly disclosed that Omipidan himself declined to serve as campaign spokesperson for AMBO because he was not convinced about the candidate's capacity to govern Osun State.
Whether true or not, the allegation has further exposed the deep mistrust currently circulating within APC ranks.
Perhaps the most symbolic aspect of the interviews was Lawal's positive assessment of Governor Ademola Adeleke's administration. The former Commissioner, who served under Oyetola and remains a notable ally of Omisore, openly passed a vote of confidence in the Adeleke administration during his appearance on Westernspring Television.
That development has fueled growing speculation about possible future political realignments ahead of the August 15, 2026 governorship election.
For many analysts, the significance of the Omisore bloc cannot be dismissed.
History provides a compelling example.
In the first ballot of the 2018 Osun governorship election, APC candidate Gboyega Oyetola polled 254,345 votes while PDP candidate Ademola Adeleke secured 254,698 votes, leading by a slim margin of 353 votes.
Senator Iyiola Omisore, contesting under the platform of the SDP, recorded more than 128,000 votes and instantly became the political bride of the election.
The eventual rerun election was decided by only 482 votes, with Oyetola polling 255,505 votes against Adeleke's 255,023 votes.
The implication remains undeniable.
Omisore did not merely participate in the 2018 election. He played a decisive role in determining who eventually governed Osun State.
That is why many observers consider the current treatment of Omisore and his supporters politically reckless.
Omisore commands a loyal political base, deep grassroots structures, tested foot soldiers and an extensive network of disciples spread across Osun State. His influence has survived multiple party migrations, political betrayals and electoral battles.
That kind of political capital is not built overnight. It is accumulated through years of relationships, strategic investments, emotional loyalty and grassroots engagement.
Whether his opponents admit it or not, Omisore remains one of the few politicians in Osun capable of significantly altering electoral calculations.
This is why some political observers believe that if Omisore eventually aligns politically with Governor Ademola Adeleke, particularly under the Accord platform or any similar coalition arrangement, the consequences for the APC could be devastating.
The same political force that helped APC secure victory in 2018 could become the force that guarantees Adeleke's re-election in 2026.
Politics is often cruelly ironic.
The very man some APC leaders now seek to diminish was once instrumental to their greatest electoral rescue. The same political structure they now dismiss may yet become the deciding factor in their next defeat.
For now, the warning signs are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
The interviews granted by Yemi Lawal have once again exposed a party struggling to convince its own stakeholders, a candidate facing questions from members of his own camp, and a leadership increasingly accused of sidelining influential voices.
As the 2026 governorship election approaches, one question continues to loom over Osun politics:
If Senator Iyiola Omisore was influential enough to help determine the outcome of the 2018 election, what happens if the political dynasty he leads decides to stand elsewhere in 2026?
The answer may ultimately determine whether Osun APC remains competitive on August 15, 2026, or whether it becomes the architect of its own political earthquake.
