Osun APC Crisis Deepens as Stakeholders Blame Oyetola For Election Defeat

• Osun APC stakeholders have blamed former Governor Gboyega Oyetola for the party’s defeat in the August 15 governorship election, accusing him of marginalising rival tendencies and weakening the party’s grassroots support.

• In a letter to President Bola Tinubu, the group alleged that Oyetola concentrated federal appointments among his allies and influenced the selection of APC candidates across the state, creating resentment among party members.

• The stakeholders urged Tinubu to probe the Osun APC leadership and primaries, reconcile Oyetola with aggrieved members and restructure the party ahead of future elections.

• They also demanded a fresh state congress and fairer distribution of appointments and political opportunities, while the allegations remain those of the group and have not been answered by Oyetola or the Osun APC leadership.

August 20, () — The crisis within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has deepened following accusations by a group of party stakeholders that former Governor and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, was principally responsible for the party’s defeat in the August 15, 2026 governorship election.

The group, operating under the name Osun APC Stakeholders Forum, made the allegations in an open letter dated August 18 and addressed to President Bola Tinubu.

The letter, titled “Why We Lost the Osun State August 15, 2026 Gubernatorial Election,” was signed by Professor Akin Adeyanju, Coordinator, and Honourable Sola Ajayi, Secretary.

The forum described itself as a pressure group within the APC committed to protecting the interests of the party.

While commending Tinubu for his leadership and what it described as his commitment to the APC before and after the election, the group said the party’s defeat occurred despite the President’s support.

It consequently shifted the blame to what it described as serious internal problems within the Osun APC, principally accusing Oyetola of operating an exclusionary political structure.

“We respectfully submit that the principal reason for our defeat was the conduct of the immediate past governor of the state and Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola,” the group stated.

The stakeholders alleged that Oyetola concentrated federal political appointments among his allies, associates and kinsmen while marginalising other influential tendencies within the party.

According to the forum, the former governor ignored appeals from party elders to accommodate other stakeholders in the distribution of appointments and political opportunities.

It alleged that the imbalance created resentment among party members and weakened the ability of the APC to mobilise support across the state.

The group listed several individuals it claimed were beneficiaries of the alleged concentration of federal appointments, including Oyetola himself, APC governorship candidate Bola Oyebamiji, his running mate Benjamin Adereti and Dayo Babaranti, whom the stakeholders identified as an Executive Director of the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation.

Other names listed included Fatai Adeyemi, Adeniran Aderogba, Lekan Badmus, Charles Akindiji, Ayo Omidiran, Nike Omoworare, Dayo Eluyemi, Segun Fanibe, Rotimi Makinde, Remi Omowaiye, Kayode Sowade, Taiwo Olaiya, Amidu Tadese, Oladele Gboyega, Festus Olowogboyega, Obawale Adebisi, Taiwo Oluga, Bosun Oyintiloye and Sunday Akere.

The forum also cited 31 local government Renewed Hope Ambassadors and 332 ward Renewed Hope Ambassadors, which it said further demonstrated the alleged concentration of political appointments within one tendency.

Adeleke Gets Certificate Of Return, Cements Second-Term Victory

2027: Adeleke’s Re-election Sparks Debate Over Tinubu’s Chances in Osun State

Advertisement

INEC Declares Adeleke Winner of Osun Governorship Election, Secures Second Term

‘Candidates Were Single-Handedly Selected’

The stakeholders went beyond allegations of appointment bias, accusing Oyetola of personally determining the APC’s candidates for elective positions in the state.

According to the group, the alleged influence extended to the governorship and deputy governorship tickets, three senatorial candidates, nine House of Representatives candidates and 26 House of Assembly candidates.

The forum argued that such a process effectively shut out other party tendencies and deprived influential stakeholders of a meaningful role in determining the party’s candidates. It said the resulting resentment affected the party’s grassroots mobilisation ahead of the election.

“We believe this pattern of exclusion left the party’s base disengaged and cost us the support of critical stakeholders and communities across the state’s three senatorial districts, contributing directly to our defeat on August 15,” the group stated.

recalls that Oyetola had actively campaigned for Oyebamiji in the days leading to the election, urging APC supporters to mobilise voters and deliver victory for the party.

But allegations against the minister followed the APC’s defeat by incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party. Adeleke polled 511,067 votes to defeat APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, who scored 444,815 votes, giving the governor a winning margin of 66,252 votes.

He also won 19 of Osun’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji secured 11. The result was a significant setback for the APC, particularly given Oyetola’s status as a former governor and a major political figure in the state.