The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has reinforced its directive prohibiting party elders and apex leaders from serving as coordinators for governorship aspirants ahead of the 2026 gubernatorial election.

This decision was announced in a statement jointly issued by the Osun APC Secretary, Alao Olabisi Kamoru, and the Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, on Friday in Osogbo, following a meeting with key party stakeholders.

According to the statement, the party has extended its earlier restriction to include "elders and apex leaders at all levels of the party" in addition to previously barred unit, ward, state, zonal, and national executive members from coordinating for any gubernatorial aspirant.

The state party chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, emphasized that this measure aims to maintain "perpetual peace" within the party as political activities intensify across the state. The party leadership warned that it "would not hesitate to wield a big stick on any recalcitrant titled member" who violates this directive.

The announcement comes as political temperatures rise within the opposition party, with approximately six gubernatorial aspirants already conducting consultations across the state, despite the absence of official guidelines from the party leadership regarding the upcoming election.

The APC leadership also cautioned aspirants to control their supporters and campaign teams, urging them to avoid engaging in "campaign of calumny, antagonism and hostility" that could unnecessarily heighten political tensions in the state.

"All the stakeholders of the party should always remember the fact that we are members of the same political family who should contribute our own quota towards the collective mission of sending Governor Ademola Adeleke packing through the 2026 governorship election," the statement read.

The party urged members to focus their energy on strengthening the APC to reclaim the governorship position in 2026, emphasizing that whoever emerges as the party's candidate will need the support and cooperation of all members to succeed in the general election.

"Let our philosophy from this moment henceforth be how to make our party more potent and virile in the overall interest of our collective aspiration of going back for the occupation of the political leadership theatre of the state in 2026," the statement concluded.