A statement released on behalf of the Non-Indigenes Mobilization Committee has rejected reports that the Arewa Community in Osun State has endorsed Governor Ademola Adeleke for a second term, saying the claim did not come from the community’s recognised leadership and should not be treated as the political position of Hausa/Fulani residents or other non-indigenes in the state.
Key takeaways
- The committee says the alleged Arewa endorsement for Governor Ademola Adeleke did not originate from the community’s established leadership.
- It argues that the claim cannot be taken to represent the views of the broader Hausa/Fulani population in Osun.
- Alhaji Umar Mohammad, co-chairman of the Non-Indigenes Mobilization Committee, described the endorsement report as limited to a small segment of Fulani residents.
- The group affirmed continued alignment with the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its gubernatorial candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO).
- It urged the public and media to disregard the narrative that the Arewa Community has collectively endorsed Governor Adeleke.
- The committee says it expects intensified mobilisation culminating in an endorsement rally ahead of the August 15, 2026 gubernatorial election.
What the committee says about the alleged endorsement
The committee said attention had been drawn to circulating reports claiming the Arewa Community in Osun State had endorsed Governor Ademola Adeleke for a second term. It described the reports as misleading and deceptive, adding that they do not reflect the collective stance of the Arewa Community or the wider non-indigene population living in the state.
Alhaji Umar Mohammad, identified as co-chairman of the Non-Indigenes Mobilization Committee and a former Senior Special Assistant on Non-Indigenes, said the declaration was made by a narrow group of Fulani residents. He said it should not be read as the view of the larger Hausa/Fulani population across Osun State.
In the statement, the committee maintained that the recognised leadership structures within the Hausa/Fulani community—such as Seriki Hausawa and established Arewa organisations operating throughout the state—were not consulted or involved in the purported endorsement. It warned that presenting the actions of a few individuals as the collective decision of the Arewa Community would amount to a serious distortion of the facts.
Support for the APC ticket and plans for mobilisation
The committee said the overwhelming majority of the Arewa Community and non-indigene residents in Osun State remain committed to the progressive programme of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO).
It stated that this support is based on AMBO’s track record, his inclusive approach to leadership, his development agenda, and what it described as a steady commitment to building a prosperous Osun where every resident—regardless of ethnicity, religion, or birthplace—has equal opportunity and a sense of belonging.
The statement also said it is especially encouraged by AMBO’s commitment to strengthening unity, advancing economic growth, promoting social cohesion, and practising participatory governance. The committee added that the vision aligns with the aspirations of non-indigenes who, it said, contribute significantly to the state’s economic and social development.
It then called on members of the public, political stakeholders and the media to ignore any storyline suggesting the Arewa Community has collectively backed Governor Adeleke, saying such a narrative is false and designed to create a misleading impression about the political disposition of one of the state’s most significant demographic groups.
The committee further said the Arewa Community and other non-indigene groups in Osun State are actively mobilising support for the APC ticket. It stated they are prepared to play a key role in ensuring victory for the AMBO/Kayode Adereti governorship ticket in the forthcoming August 15, 2026 gubernatorial election.
Looking ahead, the committee said Osun residents will see what it described as an unprecedented demonstration of solidarity from the Arewa Community and other non-indigene groups through strategic engagements, grassroots mobilisation activities, and a major endorsement rally for the APC candidate in the coming weeks.
It concluded by reaffirming that it intends to galvanise support across all communities and work toward the emergence of a government that reflects the diversity, aspirations, and shared interests of residents of Osun State.
