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Bitter defeat as the All Progressives Congress, APC, has admitted that internal wrangling, disagreement over its candidate and complacency contributed to its defeat in the 2026 Osun State governorship election, describing the outcome as a wake-up call ahead of the 2027 general elections.

A chieftain of the party, Farouk Aliyu, made the admission yesterday during an interview on ARISE Morning Show, saying the APC “defeated itself” in Osun State despite deploying enormous resources and efforts to win the poll.

Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party won the election with 511,677 votes to secure a second term.

Aliyu said disagreements among party members over the choice of candidate affected the APC’s performance, with some members allegedly refusing to work for the party because they were unhappy with the candidate.

“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,” he said.

According to him, the party must ensure in future elections that its candidate commands broad support among its members.

“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,” Aliyu said.

According to him, the party must ensure in future elections that its candidate commands broad support among its members.

“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,” Aliyu said.

He declined to publicly identify party leaders responsible for the loss, saying the matter should be resolved internally.

Aliyu also faulted the APC for taking the Osun electorate for granted, saying some members assumed 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.

He also criticised comments made by APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, during the campaign, saying they contributed to the party’s defeat.

Aliyu, however, commended President Bola Tinubu for not deploying federal might to influence the election and praised the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for transparently uploading results on its IReV portal.

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 socio-political organisation, Afenifere, congratulated Adeleke on his re-election.

Obasanjo, who paid a congratulatory visit to Adeleke at his country home in Ede, charged him to sustain good governance and continue meeting the needs of the people.

“Continue to deliver good governance .Continue to meet the needs of your people,” Obasanjo told the governor.

Responding, Adeleke thanked the former President and promised not to disappoint the people of Osun.

“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,” he said.

Soludo said Adeleke’s victory reflected the confidence of Osun voters in his administration, while urging political actors to embrace peace and unity.

Afenifere described the election as free, fair and credible, commending INEC and Osun voters for ensuring that the will of the people prevailed.

The group, however, said the country must continue to strengthen the electoral system ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Also, the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, urged Adeleke to run an inclusive administration and ensure equitable distribution of appointments,

Intrigues that cost Oyebamiji, APC victory

Meanwhile, the All Progressive Congress, APC, in Osun state, on Saturday lost the governorship election with over 66,000 votes to the Accord Party’s Ademola Adeleke after an intense battle for the seat.

Vanguard’s checks showed that high-wire intrigues and behind the scene of campaigns led to the failure of the party and its governorship candidate, Mr Bola Oyebamiji.

The biggest factor, Vanguard gathered is the intense battle for 2027 general elections and the need to save the APC from losing the Presidency. It was gathered that while the party chairmen were busy campaigning and calling for votes in the state, the APC strategists in the presidency were looking at means of uniting the incumbent Governor Adeleke with the APC structure to secure the state ahead of the general election.

Recall that during the peak of the PDP crisis, Governor Adeleke made moves to join the APC but he was blocked by powerful forces from the state on the ground that the party will defeat him at the governorship poll. Also some APC forces within and outside the state were hell-bent on bringing him to the APC owing to his popularity and street credibility specially among the workers and the youths.

While the party and stakeholders were finalizing strategy to deploy for the election success in the morning of the election, it was gathered that some persons in the Presidency were discussing with the Adeleke dynasty on joining forces to deliver bulk votes for President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

Vanguard

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The Edo State House of Assembly has elected Yekini Idiaye, the lawmaker representing Akoko Edo Constituency I, as its speaker.

Idiaye’s emergence followed the resignation of the former speaker, Blessing Agbebaku, which was formally acknowledged by the House during Monday’s plenary.

The sitting, presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Osamwonye Atu, who announced the receipt of Agbebaku’s resignation letter. Following the announcement, the member representing the Esan South East Constituency. Sunday Ojiezele nominated Idiaye for the position of Speaker. The nomination was seconded by the member representing Owan East Constituency, Eric Okaka.

The Clerk of the House subsequently administered the oath of office on Idiaye, who thereafter assumed the leadership of the House.

The House also considered a letter from the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) seeking changes in the leadership of the majority caucus.

The letter nominated Ojiezele, representing the Esan South East Constituency, as Majority Leader, while Ojie Inegbebor, representing the Igueben Constituency, was nominated as Deputy Majority Leader.

The lawmakers also approved a letter from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), nominating Natasha Osawaru as the new Minority Leader of the House.

The nomination of Osawaru had reportedly been pending before the latest leadership changes. The developments have effectively ushered in a new leadership structure in the Edo State House of Assembly, with Idiaye now presiding over the eighth Assembly.

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After the outcome of the just-concluded governorship election in Osun State, the All Progressives Congress, APC, has disclosed that it is studying the results before determining the next line of action.

Governor Ademola Adeleke, while addressing newsmen after he was declared victorious, disclosed that he is expecting his opponent, Mr Bola Oyebamiji, to call and congratulate him.

However, the APC, in a statement issued by its Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, said the party leadership is currently studying the results of the governorship election in each of the 332 wards across the state with a view to exploring further allowed constitutional steps within the window of opportunity.

His words, “We are not unaware of the fact that election is a process which begins at the registration of the voters through the primary election to the election proper which extends to the Tribunal, the Appeal Court and terminates at the Supreme Court.

“An election cannot be said to have been concluded without having explored all these constitutionally allowed legal opportunity to correct anomalies observed in the process of the election as enshrined in the Electoral Act 2026 as amended.

We commend the steadfastness, sagacity and loyalty of the numerous members and supporters of our party for their contributions in getting to this juncture in the political history of the state.

“We make bold to state categorically that as a progressive party which is founded on the unalloyed principle of the rule of law, fairness and justice, we shall not hesitate without further delay to explore the window allowed by the extant Electoral Act after due consultation with the team of our lawyers based on their professional advice.

The new development is a beauty of democracy with reference to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s declared governorship election results in the state which would not propel us to deviate from embracing the culture of the rule of law.”

While appealing to members of the party to remain calm and go about their businesses lawfully, he urged the police to be on alert to rescue members of the party, who have become victims of molestation by members of the ruling party.

“As a result of the foregoing, we are imploring our ever loyal members and supporters to remain cool and calm while they carry on with their businesses and refuse to respond to any provocative action or inaction from any of the members of the ruling party across the state.

“It is necessary to assure our members and supporters not to despair about the current situation and have it in mind that it is not over until it is over.

“While we are appealing to the Nigeria Police Force to come to the aid and rescue of our members and supporters who are being needlessly molested by the ruling party, we are assuring them that we won’t have any cause or reason to abandon them,” he said.