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From Taiwo Oluwadare, Ibadan
The Deputy National Chairman (South) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Agbi Stephen Omobamidele, has called for an overhaul of the party’s internal political management following its defeat in the 2026 Osun State governorship election.
Omobamidele said the election result exposed the consequences of sidelining loyal party members and relying on last-minute mobilisation, warning that the APC must rebuild its grassroots structures and reward those who have contributed to the growth of the party.
In a statement titled “Osun 2026: A Wake-Up Call for APC and the Politics of Reward,” the APC chieftain said the party should not approach the outcome with blame or lamentation but use it as an opportunity for strategic correction ahead of the 2027 elections.
Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party polled 511,067 votes to defeat the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who secured 444,815 votes, giving Adeleke a margin of 66,252 votes.
Omobamidele said the result showed that electoral victories are built long before election day through sustained grassroots engagement, party loyalty, effective structures and recognition of members who make sacrifices for the organisation.
He expressed concern that some party loyalists who mobilised support and defended the APC during difficult periods were often overlooked when political opportunities were distributed.
According to him, allowing proximity to power to become the main criterion for political recognition could weaken the party’s foundation.
“Across Nigeria, our party is sustained by thousands of men and women who have given everything, time, resources, and personal sacrifice, to keep the APC alive,” he said.
The APC leader maintained that the party was not short of capable members or political resources, pointing to its governors, ministers, legislators, national officers and millions of supporters across the country.
He, however, identified poor coordination, internal divisions, exclusion and inadequate utilisation of political capital as challenges requiring urgent attention.
Omobamidele urged the APC to strengthen permanent grassroots structures, reward loyalty and measurable contributions, reconcile internal disagreements early and create more opportunities for competent young leaders.
He also advocated the integration of support groups, including CAGraM, into the party’s formal political structure rather than engaging them primarily during election periods.
The Deputy National Chairman further called for improved data-driven political planning and more effective communication of government achievements to voters.
He said the 2027 elections must be treated as a collective responsibility, rather than relying on individual political figures to deliver electoral victories.
“The 2026 Osun result shows clearly that while APC improved its vote base, our opponents expanded theirs faster. That is the real lesson,” he said.
Omobamidele urged party leaders to resist the temptation to blame individuals for the Osun outcome, stressing that the election should instead prompt a broader review of how the APC manages its members and political structures.
“Osun should not breed blame. It should produce reform,” he said.
He warned that failure to address the concerns raised by the election could expose the APC to further setbacks, stressing that political power ultimately depends on the people who build and sustain party structures.
“If we get this right, 2027 will not be a struggle. It will be consolidation. But if we ignore these lessons, Osun will not be the last warning,” he added.
