The African Action Congress (AAC) on Saturday selected 39-year-old Olajide Esan as its governorship candidate for the 2026 Osun State governorship election.
Esan, a businessman, emerged through a consensus arrangement at the party’s secretariat located at the Power Line area of Osogbo. Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were present to monitor the exercise.
Speaking with journalists after the process, the Osun State Chairman of AAC, Tayo Adeyemi, said Esan received the backing of party members across the state.
Adeyemi described the selection process as free, fair and credible, noting that it reflected the party’s commitment to democratic principles.
Reacting to his emergence, Esan said the time had come to remove the major political parties from positions of power, accusing them of running a dictatorial system.
“The big political parties are oppressing us in this nation. Their type of leadership has weaponise poverty, they have subjugated the public by oppressing them. We have a systemic problem in Nigeria. The system of this country has set us all up to become criminals.
“We must fight this. The current leadership will not do the right thing for us as citizens because it will not pay them. We must collectively enthroned good leadership. When elected, I will create a ministry to check every citizen, to advocate for good welfare.”
Esan urged residents and voters in Osun State to unite behind AAC in the 2026 election, calling on them to reject APC, PDP and Accord Party.
“AAC will embark on voter education. Don’t think that saviour is coming from outside. I am here for service.
“My government will create a website where we will display all the public funds. You will all see how money is been spent. We must condemn vote buying at all costs. We have arrangements within our party to fight vote buying.
“The system of this country will frustrate the potential in youths. Our mission is to take government from criminals and give it to the general public,” he added.
