Osun APC Stakeholders Write Tinubu, Give Reasons for Governorship Election Defeat
By Peace Erewunmi
Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State have written to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, outlining what they described as the major reasons behind the party’s defeat in the August 15, 2026 governorship election.
In a statement dated August 18 and signed by the coordinator of the Osun APC Stakeholders Forum, Professor Akin Adeyanju, the group blamed the party’s loss largely on internal divisions and the alleged failure of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola to adequately carry party stakeholders along.
The stakeholders alleged that Oyetola concentrated federal political appointments among his allies, associates and kinsmen while other important tendencies within the party were allegedly marginalised.
They argued that the perceived exclusion weakened the APC’s grassroots structure and contributed to the party losing support across the state’s three senatorial districts.
The group also alleged that Oyetola played a dominant role in the selection of candidates for elective positions, despite what it described as advice from party elders to ensure broader inclusion.
Among those identified in the letter as beneficiaries of federal appointments were Oyetola, APC governorship candidate Bola Oyebamiji, his running mate Benjamin Adereti and Dayo Babaranti.
The stakeholders said the alleged pattern of exclusion created dissatisfaction among party members and weakened the party’s ability to mobilise effectively for the election.
Their position is consistent with comments from other APC figures who have attributed the defeat to internal wrangling, disagreement over the party’s candidate and complacency. APC chieftain Farouk Aliyu recently said the party had effectively “defeated itself” in Osun despite the resources deployed for the election.
The stakeholders consequently called on President Tinubu to order an independent review of the Osun APC leadership structure and its candidate-selection process.
They also requested a reconciliation meeting involving Oyetola, party elders and aggrieved stakeholders under the supervision of the APC National Working Committee.
In addition, the group called for greater fairness in the distribution of federal appointments to Osun State and urged the establishment of a fact-finding committee to examine the party’s governorship primary and complaints raised by party members.
The APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, lost the election to incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke, who secured 511,067 votes against Oyebamiji’s 444,815 votes.
The latest development has intensified discussions within the APC over the lessons from the Osun defeat and the steps required to rebuild party unity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The allegations against Oyetola are claims made by the APC stakeholders and have not, in themselves, established that the alleged actions were responsible for the party’s electoral defeat.
