The All Progressives Congress (APC) is confronted with some challenges ahead of next year’s off-cycle governorship election in Osun State, particularly the internal crisis within its fold. To boost its chances of winning, the party must choose a candidate that would resonate with the electorate, writes Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI
Leaders of the Osun State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) are facing a race against time to put the party in order ahead of next year’s off-cycle governorship election. Since it was dislodged from power two years ago, stakeholders have made frantic efforts to woo some key opposition figures and shore up the party’s popularity and influence.
The APC appears determined to unseat the occupant of the Bola Ige Governor’s House. However, the party faces a challenging environment as it prepares for the upcoming election. Addressing the challenges, which include internal divisions within the fold, improving its public perception and effectively engaging with the electorate, will be crucial for the party’s success.
The process of selecting candidates for the 2026 race is crucial. If the APC fails to choose a candidate that resonates with the electorate and can effectively address the people’s concerns, it may struggle to regain support. The party is yet to recover from the defeat it suffered in the last governorship election at the hands of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The recent political tension in the state, marked by clashes between the APC and the PDP is nothing but a dress rehearsal for next year’s election. Since the APC lost power to the opposition in 2022, its influence has waned because the party’s performance in that election has punctured the myth of its perceived strength and invisibility in the state and the Southwest geopolitical zone in general.
However, members of the APC are not leaving anything to chance to bring the party back to winning ways. In a bid to satisfy public sentiment, the party’s reinstated local government chairmen and their ex-counterpart from 2017 to 2022 appealed to its leadership to cede the 2026 governorship ticket to the Chief Executive Officer of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Bola Oyebamiji. The chairmen reached that consensus after their meeting on Monday in Osogbo, the state capital.
The former Chairman of Boluwaduro Council, Akeem Tokede, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said a campaign group called Grassroots for AMBO has been launched to champion Oyebamiji’s aspiration. He said they still respect the immediate past governor and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola as the chapter’s preferred candidate “but if he chooses not to contest, the NIWA boss should be given the ticket”.
He added: “If the minister decided not to recontest, he should cede the ticket to Oyebamiji because he has the charisma to deliver victory for our party when we work for him. We believe that as local government chairmen, we are at the grassroots and can mobilise and campaign for the NIWA boss to emerge victorious in the election.”
While responding to questions from reporters, Tokede said the APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru is eminently qualified to contest. Nevertheless, he added that he would have to abide by the party’s decision if Oyetola anoints Oyebamiji.
Oyebamiji who hails from the Osun West Senatorial District served as the Commissioner for Finance under Aregbesola and Oyetola. He was initially anointed to succeed Aregbesola because of the agitation for a power shift to Osun West. His campaign had gained popularity throughout the state with his nickname, ‘Dodo Ikire’, on many people’s lips before Oyetola got the party’s ticket in 2018. He was a banker before he ventured into politics.
He was one of the eggheads under the administration of Oyetola who managed the state finance and was instrumental in repayment of about N100bn debt of Osun State within four years. He is believed to be generous as that made his popularity cut across party lines. However, he has never been on the ballot before and has never contested for any position before.
The recriminations that followed the 2022 defeat have further polarized the party. Today, the APC is experiencing internal divisions and conflicts among its members, which have weakened its cohesion and effectiveness. The internal division or conflict within the party has resulted in a lack of unified strategy or sense of oneness and belonging for some aggrieved members, making it difficult to carry everyone along.
The primary issue the Osun chapter grappled with before the last governorship election was the clamour for the party’s ticket to be zoned to the Osun West Senatorial District. Its inability or unwillingness to tackle it for equity and fairness divided it. As a result, a faction led by former Governor Rauf Aregbesola connived with the PDP, particularly in the Osun West Senatorial District, where members were determined to dislodge the former ruling party from power.
The clamour for a governor of Osun West extraction worked against Oyetola’s re-election bid because he is from Osun Central, while his opponent, Ademola Adeleke, now the governor, is from Osun West. Indications are that the APC has not learnt lessons from the last governorship election because it has yet to take a stand on zoning, which was its undoing in the 2022 election.
It appears in a quandary and has yet to take a position. However, the uncertainty over the APC’s position on zoning is one factor that is still unsettling some stakeholders, particularly those who have ambitions to contest. It is uncertain whether Oyetola would contest. There are insinuations in some quarters that he may not contest because of the national assignment that President Bola Tinubu has entrusted in his hands.
The decision of whether to zone the ticket for the election to a particular senatorial district or throw it open to all comers is causing ripples within the fold. While some groups within the Osun APC, like the Osun Progressives Independent Forum (OPIF), are urging its leadership to throw its governorship ticket open to all candidates, several others are calling for it to be zoned to Osun West if former Governor Oyetola decides not to run. The OPIF believes the APC would stand a better chance of winning next year’s election if it chooses a candidate based on merit, not sentiments. Speaking at a press conference recently, the coordinator of the group, Satiregun Olayiwola, said the party’s process of selecting its candidate should be all-inclusive, transparent, and without favour or pressure from any quarter.
Olayiwola’s words: “The future of APC and Osun State depends on selecting a candidate based on merit, not sentiments. Our party must evaluate potential candidates against clear criteria, including antecedents, experience, electoral viability, courage, and demographic appeal.
“Advocating for a particular zone, region, or senatorial district should be discarded to avoid repeating what befell our party in 2018/2022. This division resulted in some loyalists leaving the party, leading to a rerun in an election we could have easily won. The consequences of this were felt in the 2022 governorship election.
“What APC needed to win in 2026 is a candidate with proven track records in leadership, vast experience in governance, and the ability to connect with a wide array of voter groups. The will to bell the cat on critical Osun issues and the vision to lead the state toward sustainable development are also paramount. This process should be all-inclusive, transparent, and without favour or pressure from any quarter.
“Therefore, we are appealing to the leadership of our party, APC, to carefully consider the aspirants who possess the qualities of soundness, vibrancy, competence, and integrity. We need someone who is marketable and ready to serve, not anyone who will act as a pawn for a few individuals at the expense of the people of Osun.”
However, another group in the party, the Coalition of Osun APC Interest Groups (COAIG), vehemently kicked against the stand of the OPIF and insisted on zoning the ticket to Osun West. The group argued that zoning the ticket to Osun West would bring fresh perspectives and address the unique developmental challenges of the district. A statement by Its Director of Public Engagement and Operations, Iwolode Samuel, COAIG, acknowledged OPIF’s contributions to the party but rejected their perspective on zoning. Samuel added: “A leader emerging from Osun West could bring innovative solutions and align district-wide developmental goals with our broader state objectives.”
The coalition emphasized the need to focus on district representation rather than individual aspirations. It noted that this approach would allow multiple qualified candidates from Osun West to compete, fostering healthy internal democracy. The statement added: “By concentrating on a district rather than an individual, we ensure internal democracy where candidates are chosen based on their capabilities to lead and transform the state.”
COAIG further described zoning as a tool for equitable representation and to correct historical imbalances. “Zoning to Osun West is a bold step towards ensuring that democracy works for everyone, not just a select few. We invite dialogue and continued discussions on how zoning can be effectively implemented to serve the best interests of Osun as a whole. Together, we can prioritize unity and collective advancement over division.
“Our vision is to chart a course for sustained development that transcends political divides and captures the aspirations of every Osun citizen. The coalition’s stance on zoning the APC governorship ticket for the Osun 2026 election is not for personal interest. This position is rooted in fairness, equity, and balanced representation across Osun’s senatorial districts. It is different from the stance of those condemning the zoning to pursue the interest of an individual instead of the party’s interest.
“Our agitation doesn’t revolve around a personality like the agenda of our brothers in OPIF. We are projecting an aspiration that considers the benefit of the majority over the comfort of an individual.”
The APC’s influence in Osun State politics began to wane in 2017 when it lost the Osun West by-election to the then-PDP candidate, Ademola Adeleke. The seat became vacant following the death of the lawmaker who hitherto represented the constituency, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, the elder brother of Governor Adeleke. The PDP, which fielded the incumbent governor as its flag bearer for the Osun West senatorial race, defeated the APC by winning nine local government areas against the APC’s one.
The party’s unpopularity then was attributed to the anti-people policies of the APC government led by Aregbesola. Such policies include the half salary syndrome, single uniform, school reclassification, and the state’s high indebtedness. People were determined to protest against the party with their votes during any election. This protest vote resulted in APC nearly losing the 2018 governorship election to Adeleke.
Though Oyetola corrected most of the anti-people policies when he emerged as governor, following Aregbesola’s exit, he could not convince Osun residents that the party meant well because his government equally faced different challenges, ranging from #EndSAR protest and COVID-19 to zero allocation, among others.
To boost its chances of winning the forthcoming election, the APC must have a good campaign strategy, which will be critical, in engaging with the electorate, addressing their concerns, and presenting a clear vision for the future.
This is particularly true since the PDP appears united in its resolve to back Governor Adeleke for a second term. The lawmaker representing Osun East, Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi, and his Osun West and Osun Central counterparts, Olalere Oyewumi and Olubiyi Fadeyi respectively were all elected on the platform of the PDP. Observers say Fadahunsi and other leaders from Osun East are behind the incumbent governor for his numerous developmental projects delivery in Ijeshaland. In Osun West, the governor has a solid home base in Ede and Iwo, alongside Ejigbo, Ikire, Gbongan and Odeomu. For Osun Central, the Osogbo people are believed to be behind the governor for transforming the state capital.
The broader political landscape in the country, including the performance of the APC at the national level, could also impact the party’s fortunes in Osun. Public perceptions about national issues, such as security, economic challenges, and governance, could influence voter sentiment.
