The All Progressives Congress, APC, has admitted that internal disagreements, dissatisfaction with its governorship candidate and overconfidence contributed to its defeat in the 2026 Osun State governorship election.
A chieftain of the party, Farouk Aliyu, made the disclosure on Monday during an interview on ARISE Morning Show, describing the outcome as a wake-up call ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Aliyu said the APC had invested significant resources and efforts in the election but “defeated itself” because of divisions within its ranks.
According to him, some party members were unhappy with the choice of candidate and consequently failed to fully support the APC during the election.
He said the party must ensure that its candidates enjoy broad acceptance among members before future elections.
Aliyu declined to identify the individuals responsible for the internal disagreements, saying such issues should be handled within the party.
He also accused some APC members of taking Governor Ademola Adeleke and his political movement for granted, while assuming that federal influence would guarantee victory.
He said some party supporters failed to carry out necessary campaign activities in certain areas because they were confident the APC would win regardless.
The APC chieftain also criticised comments made by the party’s National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, during the campaign, suggesting that they contributed to the party’s poor performance.
However, Aliyu commended President Bola Tinubu for allowing the election to proceed without using federal influence to interfere with the process.
He also praised the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for what he described as transparent uploading of results on its IReV portal.
Adeleke receives congratulatory messages
Meanwhile, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olabode George, Anambra State Governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, and pan-Yoruba group Afenifere have congratulated Adeleke on his re-election.
Obasanjo visited Adeleke at his country home in Ede, where he urged the governor to sustain good governance and continue addressing the needs of Osun residents.
Adeleke thanked the former President for the visit and promised to remain committed to the people of the state and democratic values.
Soludo said Adeleke’s victory reflected the confidence voters placed in his administration and called on political actors to promote peace and unity.
Afenifere described the election as free, fair and credible, while commending INEC and Osun voters for ensuring that the electorate’s choice prevailed.
The organisation, however, called for further improvements to Nigeria’s electoral system ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, also urged Adeleke to operate an inclusive government and ensure fairness in the distribution of appointments.
Intrigues behind APC defeat
The APC reportedly lost the Osun governorship election to Adeleke by more than 66,000 votes, after an intense contest involving the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, and the Accord Party candidate.
Reports indicate that internal political calculations surrounding the 2027 presidential election may also have influenced developments within the APC during the Osun poll.
Sources within the party claimed that while APC leaders and campaign teams were mobilising voters across the state, some political strategists were exploring the possibility of working with the Adeleke political structure ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The discussions were reportedly linked to efforts to secure strong support for President Bola Tinubu in Osun in 2027.
Adeleke had previously been linked with possible movement to the APC during the crisis within the PDP, although the move did not materialise.
Some APC figures were reportedly interested in bringing Adeleke into the party because of his popularity, particularly among workers and young people in the state.
According to a source within the APC, some party strategists reportedly left Osun early on Saturday, the day of the election, following alleged directives from the Presidency.
The source claimed that Oyebamiji and members of his campaign team became aware of the development shortly before voting commenced but continued with the election process.
Another source at the APC secretariat in Osogbo alleged that discussions were focused on potentially securing the support of the Adeleke political structure for more than one million votes for President Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
The claims have added another layer to the post-election debate over the APC’s defeat in Osun, with internal party divisions, campaign strategy and calculations ahead of 2027 emerging as key issues.
