President Bola Tinubu has summoned about 76 All Progressives Congress leaders from Osun State to the Presidential Villa in Abuja following an intelligence report by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, on growing discontent within the party ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

The meeting, which was held late Saturday night, was convened after Ribadu reportedly alerted the President that several APC leaders in Osun felt sidelined from the affairs of the party, including the ongoing campaign for its governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.

Multiple sources who attended the meeting said Tinubu used the gathering to address the grievances of the aggrieved leaders and urged them to put their differences aside and work collectively for the APC’s victory at the poll.

The leaders were reportedly flown to Abuja on chartered aircraft from Ibadan, Oyo State, while some, including former Senior Special Assistant to the President on Legislative Matters, Babajide Omoworare, travelled from Lagos.

Among those said to have attended the meeting were a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Olubunmi Ete; former speakers of the Osun State House of Assembly, Mojeed Alabi, Adejare Bello and Wale Afolabi; as well as Shuaib Oyedokun, Poju Odusola and Bode Olanipekun.

The APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, was said to have coordinated the mobilisation of the party leaders at the request of the Presidency.

A former local government chairman who attended the meeting said the President’s intervention followed concerns raised by Ribadu that the internal divisions could undermine the party’s chances in the election.

He said, “The meeting was at the instance of an intelligence report from the NSA. I am aware that he told Tinubu that many APC leaders in Osun were not happy and had not been carried along in the party’s affairs, including the ongoing campaign. Ribadu said the development, if not urgently addressed, could jeopardise the chances of the party.

“The President then immediately called SRJ (Basiru) and told him to organise the APC leaders who have not been involved in the scheme of things in Osun.”

Another former lawmaker who attended the meeting described it as a no-holds-barred session during which the party leaders openly presented their grievances to the President.

According to him, the leaders complained that federal appointments allocated to Osun had largely gone to members of the camp loyal to former Osun State Governor and current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola.

“We were around 76 in number at the meeting. It was an opportunity for the President to know the truth about what is happening in Osun State,” the former lawmaker said.

“We told him how the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has given federal appointments to only members of his IleriOluwa camp.

“We told the President the truth, that the majority of us, the APC leaders, don’t know how the party is being run.”

The source said Tinubu acknowledged the concerns but warned the leaders against allowing internal disagreements to damage the party’s electoral prospects.

He quoted the President as saying, “Mr President told us that we shouldn’t throw away the bathwater with the baby. He said the party would be at the receiving end if the APC loses the next election.”

The former lawmaker also said Tinubu expressed disappointment over the APC’s losses in Osun during the 2022 governorship and 2023 general elections.

According to the source, the President said, “Oyetola had all the resources to win his re-election. But he couldn’t use them. Though he lost the election, I appointed him as a minister. In the real sense, it is the party that lost. So, go and work for the victory of the party.”

Another APC chieftain who attended the meeting described the session as productive, saying the leaders were satisfied with the President’s response to their complaints.

He said some of the attendees had expressed concern that an APC victory could still leave members outside the IleriOluwa camp marginalised.

“But the President responded by saying, ‘You don’t need to worry yourself. If the appointments in Osun are exhausted, there are enough rooms to accommodate everybody from Osun at the federal [level]. So, go and unite and deliver Osun,’” the source said.

The meeting is coming at a critical point in the Osun governorship contest, with the APC seeking to consolidate its campaign ahead of the August 15 election.

A loyalist of Basiru also confirmed the meeting, saying the APC national secretary was determined to resolve internal disagreements and ensure that all influential party leaders participate in the campaign.

“He was at the meeting. Ete, Sooko Adewoyin, Wale Afolabi, Mojeed Alabi, Omoworare and other leaders were also at the meeting. Basiru facilitated it because he is committed to ensuring that the party wins the coming election,” the source said.

“The reality is that you cannot go into an election when there is disquiet in the party. SRJ (Basiru) wants everyone to be happy and genuinely work for the party.”

The source added that Basiru had publicly campaigned for Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO, and had been involved in grassroots mobilisation for the APC candidate.