Osun APC stakeholders blame Oyetola for party’s defeat in governorship election
The Osun APC Stakeholders Forum has blamed Gboyega Oyetola, minister of marine and blue economy, for the party’s defeat in the August 15 governorship election in the state.
Ademola Adeleke, candidate of the Accord and incumbent governor, polled 511,067 votes to defeat Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election.
In an open letter dated August 18, 2026, and addressed to President Bola Tinubu, the forum expressed concern that the APC lost the election despite what it described as the president’s support for the party’s success.
In the letter signed by Akin Adeyanju, coordinator of the forum, and Sola Ajayi, secretary, the forum, which described itself as a pressure group within the APC, commended Tinubu for his leadership and support for the party before and after the election.
“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 letter reads.
According to the forum, Oyetola, the former governor of Osun, “appointed cronies, allies and kinsmen to federal political positions and single-handedly selected all candidates for elective office in the state”.
The group alleged that the former governor disregarded the advice of the party elders, who urged him to carry other stakeholders along.
The forum listed 26 federal political appointees whom it alleged were “cornered by Oyetola’s hometown and camp”.
Those listed include Oyetola; Abdulrasheed Olabomi, pro-chancellor and chairman of the governing council of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta; Oyebamiji, managing director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA); Benjamin Adereti, deputy governorship candidate; Dayo Babaranti, executive director of the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation; among others.
The stakeholders also accused Oyetola of single-handedly nominating the APC’s governorship and deputy governorship candidates, as well as three senatorial candidates, nine house of representatives candidates and 26 state house of assembly candidates.
“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 said.
The forum urged Tinubu to order an immediate independent review of the Osun APC leadership structure and candidate-selection process.
It also called for a reconciliation meeting involving Oyetola, party elders and aggrieved stakeholders under the supervision of the APC national working committee (NWC).
The forum proposed a transparent framework for future candidate selection based on broader consultation rather than the preference of a single leader.
It further called for wider inclusion in federal appointments and future candidacies across the state’s three senatorial districts and various interest groups.
“We are confident that with Your Excellency’s timely intervention, our party can reunite its ranks in Osun state, rebuild the trust of our members, and return stronger and better positioned ahead of the next election cycle,” the forum said.
