The All Progressives Congress has admitted that internal disagreements, disputes over its governorship candidate and complacency contributed significantly to its defeat in the 2026 Osun State governorship election.
The party described the outcome as a wake-up call ahead of the 2027 general elections, with a chieftain, Farouk Aliyu, saying the APC effectively “defeated itself” despite deploying significant resources and efforts to win the poll.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE Morning Show, Aliyu said disagreements within the party over the choice of its candidate weakened its campaign and affected the commitment of some members to the election.
Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party won the election with 511,677 votes to secure a second term.
“We did everything humanly possible to win the election. There is a lot of internal wrangling among our members in Osun State. There are people who were not happy with the choice of our candidate,” Aliyu said.
He stressed that the party must ensure that its candidates enjoy broad support among party members before future elections.
“Some members of our party did not do what they were supposed to do out of anger because they didn’t like our candidate. That is the major internal problem we had; APC defeated itself in Osun State,” he added.
Aliyu declined to name party leaders he believed contributed to the defeat, saying the issues should be addressed internally.
He also accused some APC members of taking the Osun electorate and Adeleke’s political movement for granted because of expectations that federal influence would guarantee victory.
“Some thought the federal government would just come in and write the results. Our members and supporters took Adeleke and his movement for granted. What we ordinarily ought to have done in certain places, we didn’t do, thinking we would win the election regardless. That didn’t happen,” he said.
Aliyu also criticised comments attributed to APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, during the campaign, arguing that they contributed to the party’s poor performance.
However, he commended President Bola Tinubu for not deploying federal power to influence the election and praised the Independent National Electoral Commission for the transparent uploading of results on its IReV portal.
Political intrigues behind APC defeat
Further checks indicated that internal political calculations surrounding the 2027 presidential election may also have affected the APC’s preparations for the Osun governorship contest.
The party’s candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, lost the election to Adeleke by more than 66,000 votes after a closely fought campaign.
Sources familiar with developments within the APC said some political actors were simultaneously focused on broader calculations ahead of the 2027 presidential election, including efforts to strengthen the party’s position in Osun State.
According to the sources, while the state APC leadership and campaign structures were mobilising support for Oyebamiji, some political strategists were exploring the possibility of working with the Adeleke political structure ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The development reportedly generated tension within sections of the APC, particularly among those who believed the immediate priority should be securing victory for the party’s governorship candidate.
Sources also recalled that Adeleke had, during the peak of the crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party, reportedly considered joining the APC. However, the move did not materialise amid opposition from influential political actors.
According to the sources, some APC figures within and outside Osun remained interested in working with Adeleke because of his popularity and influence among youths, workers and other segments of the electorate.
A source within the APC secretariat in Osogbo, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed that some political strategists left the state in the early hours of election day following directives allegedly linked to broader political calculations.
The source further alleged that some members of Oyebamiji’s campaign team became aware of the development shortly before voting commenced but proceeded with the election campaign.
Another source claimed that some political actors were exploring an alliance with the Adeleke political dynasty to secure substantial support for President Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
The claim, however, remains an allegation and has not been independently confirmed.
Adeleke receives congratulations
Meanwhile, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former PDP Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George, Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo and pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation Afenifere have congratulated Adeleke on his re-election.
Obasanjo visited Adeleke at his country home in Ede and urged the governor to sustain good governance and continue addressing the needs of Osun residents.
“Continue to deliver good governance. Continue to meet the needs of your people,” Obasanjo told Adeleke.
The governor thanked the former President for the visit and pledged to remain committed to the people of the state.
“Baba, I thank you for this surprise visit. I promise never to disappoint God, Osun people and all lovers of democracy who made our victory possible,” Adeleke said.
Soludo said the result reflected the confidence placed in Adeleke by Osun voters and urged political actors to embrace peace and unity.
Afenifere described the election as free, fair and credible, commending INEC and the electorate for ensuring that the will of the people prevailed.
The organisation, however, called for further strengthening of Nigeria’s electoral system ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Inter-Party Advisory Council also urged Adeleke to run an inclusive administration and ensure equitable distribution of appointments.
The APC’s defeat in Osun has consequently triggered renewed debate within the party over candidate selection, internal cohesion, campaign strategy and the extent to which its political calculations ahead of 2027 may have influenced its approach to the governorship election.
