The handling of the 2026 gubernatorial election preparations in Osun State, warning of a repeat of the divisive 2018 primaries and urging for unity and fairness within the APC

This is my first official public release concerning the 2026 Gubernatorial Election in Osun State.

In 2018, I publicly criticized Governor Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola for his indecisiveness and lukewarm attitude in endorsing a clear aspirant.

Also read: APC slams Osun LG elections as illegal, calls for federal intervention

His reluctance to rally the party behind a unified candidate led to a chaotic and divisive primary—one that the party has not fully recovered from to this day.

In retrospect, I’ve come to understand that Ogbeni Aregbesola’s hesitation stemmed from a misalignment between his personal interests and those of his mentor and benefactor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, now the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

After much internal struggle, he eventually succumbed to pressure and supported Asiwaju’s preferred candidate, albeit reluctantly.

That reluctance was evident during the general election, and Osun has been grappling with the aftermath ever since.

That single act triggered a chain of political crises that not only edged Aregbesola out of the APC but also contributed significantly to Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola’s inability to secure re-election.

Fast forward to today—Oyetola is now a Federal Minister, heading a juicy portfolio in the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, a position some say is more powerful than the governorship of seven states combined.

Meanwhile, his successor, Governor Ademola Adeleke of the PDP, is preparing for re-election.

As we approach the off-cycle election year of 2026, the APC is once again at a crossroads. The party faces the familiar challenge of choosing a gubernatorial flagbearer, and many capable and high-profile aspirants have declared interest, we are beginning to witness the same troubling patterns that tore the party apart in 2018.

I am disappointed that Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, like Aregbesola before him, is handling this matter poorly. Instead of building consensus, he has chosen to throw his weight behind a single aspirant—Bola Oyebamiji—while sidelining other credible contenders has deployed a few of his loyalists to aggressively promote his preferred candidate, ignoring the need for inclusivity.

Let’s be clear—it is not wrong for a leader to have a preferred candidate. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has demonstrated this in Lagos, but what sets him apart is his political wisdom and ability to build consensus.

He doesn’t impose—he persuades, he consults, and he leads.

In contrast, what we see in Osun is imposition without consultation. This approach has never worked and will not work now. It divides the party, weakens our chances, and often leads to electoral defeat.

Standing for truth and fairness is not disrespect—it is integrity.

The Missing Link

The persistent void in Osun politics is the absence of a clearly respected, overall leader. One would expect that Chief Bisi Akande, our elder statesman and the pioneer governor in this democratic era, would be accorded that role. But sadly, that’s not the case.

Under Aregbesola, and now under Oyetola, Chief Akande has been reduced to a rubber stamp—consulted only when decisions have already been made.

This is an insult to his legacy and to the progressive ideals he has stood for. For context, Baba Akande worked with Chief Obafemi Awolowo, served in Bola Ige’s cabinet, was the first civilian governor of Osun in 1999, and later became the inaugural national chairman of the APC. If anyone represents the true spirit of progressivism, it is him.

So I ask:

Why can’t Alhaji Oyetola close ranks with Baba Akande and other respected elders to guide the process of choosing the next governor?
Why allow his political foot soldiers to sow division within the party?
Why coerce the party’s state, local, and ward structures into aligning with a single aspirant?
Is Oyetola’s personal interest greater than the party’s collective goal of reclaiming power from the PDP?

If Bola Oyebamiji emerges under this divisive atmosphere, we risk entering the 2026 election as a fractured house—just like in 2018, when 24 state-level party executives defected to the ADP.

Today, the mood within the APC is tense. Though party executives have not openly voiced their discontent, my over 30 years of political experience tell me all is not well.

Many are disillusioned by how appointees linked to Oyetola are issuing directives and skewing the process. The grassroots are being strong-armed into creating a false impression of unified support for one aspirant.

Let’s Be Honest

Many party elders are now afraid to speak the truth, fearful that any criticism of Oyetola might be seen as an insult to President Tinubu.

But I say this with utmost respect: standing for truth and fairness is not disrespect—it is integrity.
(It’s the vocabulary you were asking for—integrity.)

Ironically, it is Oyetola who is showing disregard for our elders. He has yet to engage them on the matter of 2026 and continues to feign ignorance about AMBO’s ambition.

I’ve heard from two other aspirants who said that when they approached him, he claimed to have no preferred candidate and encouraged them to continue consultations. This is the height of hypocrisy.

If Oyetola truly isn’t backing AMBO, why is there an influx of resources from agencies like NIMASA, NPA, NIWA, and FHA—agencies tied to him—into AMBO’s campaign? Why have political positions already been shared among AMBO’s camp a full year ahead of the election? This is not only premature; it reeks of desperation.

My Advice

1. To Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola: Refrain from manipulating the primaries. If you have a preferred candidate, own it openly. Otherwise, allow a level playing field and let all aspirants be treated equally—as your political sons.

2. You have made significant strides in drawing top-tier politicians into the progressive fold. Do not disappoint them by making our internal democracy worse than the family-centered politics of the Adeleke dynasty.

3. Do not allow the same familiar faces that tarnished your administration to dominate our future. If they succeed in hijacking the process, it will cast a shadow over your legacy. Remember, Ogbeni Aregbesola’s career ended in disgrace. Power is transient—your deeds today will be judged tomorrow.

Let wisdom prevail. A stitch in time saves nine.

Dauda Oni
Ward 10, Egbedore LGA, Osun State