Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi, a gubernatorial aspirant for the Osun 2026 governorship election, has disclosed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership will determine the screening method for the growing number of aspirants seeking the party's ticket.

Ogunbiyi made this known during his formal declaration to contest for the governorship position at an event held in Ile-Ogbo on Saturday.

The former Accord Party candidate in the Osun 2022 governorship election dismissed concerns that the increasing number of aspirants might create discord within the party, emphasizing that the APC remains united despite multiple interests in the race.

"We can have as many as possible aspirants; it doesn't matter at this point in time. What matters is that at the appropriate time, the leadership will decide whether we will go for primary or otherwise but it can't tear the party apart," Ogunbiyi stated.

He further emphasized the democratic credentials of the party's national leader, President Bola Tinubu, noting that the number of candidates is not an issue of concern.

"If you look at our leader, President Bola Tinubu, he is a democrat to the core. We can have twenty or fifty candidates, it doesn't matter at this point in time," he added.

Unity Above Personal Ambition

Ogunbiyi strongly cautioned against defection, describing the possibility of any aspirant leaving the party due to losing the gubernatorial ticket as "unthinkable." He emphasized that all declared and prospective aspirants share a common progressive ideology.

"If truly all the aspirants are committed to the party and we have the singular aspirations for APC to take over the leadership of Osun State, that won't tear the party apart I can assure you," he said.

"All the people that have come out now, we know each other and I want to believe that our focus is the unity within the party and that is unshakeable," Ogunbiyi continued.

When asked about his specific political strategies, the gubernatorial hopeful maintained that he would keep his plans confidential for now, describing the race as a competition.

"I cannot be relaying my plans to you because now it is a competition, but we will carry you along as we go," he concluded.