The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, has voiced strong opposition to the proposed zoning arrangement for the party’s 2026 governorship ticket in Osun State.
In a Facebook post on Monday, the former lawmaker representing Osun Central Senatorial District declared that zoning is not recognized in the APC constitution and emphasized that every eligible party member should be allowed to contest.
Ajibola Basiru argued that zoning could undermine the democratic process and alienate potential voters from zones excluded by such arrangements. He insisted that competence and unity should guide the party’s choice of candidate, not regional considerations.
“When you insist on zoning, aren’t you going to canvass votes in other zones whose aspirants you have denied?” he questioned in his post.
“Zoning is not in our constitution. People should be free to contest. When you insist on zoning, aren’t you going to canvass votes in other zones whose aspirants you have denied? I’m not in support of zoning. – Senator Ajibola Basiru, PhD.”
His statement comes amid growing calls by APC stakeholders for the governorship ticket to be zoned to Osun West Senatorial District.
Reports suggest the party may be leaning toward a candidate from the district who allegedly enjoys the support of Minister of Marine and Blue Economy and former governor, Adegboyega Oyetola.
Basiru, who served in the Senate from 2019 to 2023 before losing his seat to PDP’s Senator Fadeyi Oluwole Olubiyi, currently serves as the national scribe of the APC.
