APC Warns Members Over Outcome of Osun Election
The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has warned party members against blaming its leaders for the outcome of the August 15 governorship election.
This was just as the party urged stakeholders to channel their energies towards rebuilding the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Kola Olabisi, the party’s Director of Media and Information, made this call in a statement issued on Friday amid growing recriminations within the party following its defeat at the poll.
Politics Nigeria recalls that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the incumbent Governor and Accord candidate, Ademola Adeleke, winner of the election, with the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, finishing behind him.
The development has triggered criticism from some APC members and groups, with allegations of poor leadership, internal divisions and political sabotage emerging in the aftermath of the election.
Responding to the growing tension, the Osun APC said it had observed sponsored publications and video messages circulating across traditional and social media platforms, accusing some party leaders of being responsible for the electoral loss.
The party described the campaign as the handiwork of “faceless organisations” and warned that continued finger-pointing could deepen the crisis rather than address the challenges confronting the APC.
“We warn that the blame game would not help the party overcome its present challenges or prepare effectively for the forthcoming presidential election,” the statement said.
The party acknowledged the disappointment among its members and supporters who worked for Oyebamiji, but maintained that attacking individuals who contributed resources, time and counsel to the party would serve no useful purpose.
“It is worrisome that some individuals had allegedly resorted to attacking party leaders who had contributed financial resources, time and advice towards sustaining the organisation,” the APC said.
The party further alleged that some individuals who worked against its interests during the election were now exploiting the defeat to create divisions within its ranks.
It claimed that its internal assessment had identified entities allegedly responsible for contributing to the party’s poor performance, some of whom it accused of subsequently attempting to undermine the APC at different levels across the state.
The warning comes against the backdrop of a statement by the Osun APC Stakeholders Forum, which publicly blamed the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy and immediate past governor of the state, Gboyega Oyetola, for the party’s defeat.
In an open letter dated August 18 and addressed to President Bola Tinubu, the forum described itself as a pressure group within the APC committed to protecting the interests of the party.
While commending Tinubu for his support before and after the election, the group expressed disappointment that the party failed to secure victory despite the President’s backing.
The forum identified Oyetola as the “principal reason” for the party’s defeat, alleging that he dominated the distribution of federal appointments and the selection of candidates for elective positions in the state.
According to the group, Oyetola allegedly appointed cronies, allies and kinsmen to federal positions while disregarding advice from party elders who had urged him to accommodate other stakeholders.
The forum claimed that 26 federal political appointments were allegedly dominated by Oyetola’s hometown and political camp.
It also accused the former governor of single-handedly determining the APC’s candidates for the governorship, deputy governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly elections.
The group argued that the alleged exclusion of key stakeholders weakened the party’s structure and contributed to the loss of support across the state’s three senatorial districts.
It subsequently called on Tinubu to order an independent review of the leadership structure and candidate-selection process of the Osun APC.
The forum also demanded a reconciliation meeting involving Oyetola, party elders and aggrieved stakeholders, to be supervised by the APC National Working Committee.
