The Osun APC Stakeholders Forum has blamed former Osun State Governor and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, for the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) defeat in the August 15, 2026 governorship election.
The allegation was contained in an open letter dated August 18, 2026, and addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Signed by the forum’s Coordinator, Professor Akin Adeyanju, and Secretary, Honourable Sola Ajayi, the group described itself as a pressure group within the APC committed to protecting the interests of the party.
The forum commended President Tinubu for his leadership and support for the APC before and after the election but expressed disappointment that the party suffered defeat despite what it described as the President’s unwavering efforts to ensure victory.
“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 group stated.
According to the forum, Oyetola allegedly appointed “cronies, allies and kinsmen” to federal political positions while also single-handedly determining the party’s candidates for elective positions in the state.
The group claimed that this was done despite repeated appeals from party elders for broader consultation and inclusion of other stakeholders.
The forum listed 26 federal political appointees whom it alleged were dominated by Oyetola’s hometown and political camp. Those named include Oyetola himself; Kabiyesi Abdulrasheed Olabomi, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta; Bola Oyebamiji, Managing Director, NIWA and governorship candidate; Benjamin Adereti, Deputy Governorship Candidate; Dayo Babaranti, Executive Director, Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation; Fatai Adeyemi, Executive Director (Operations), NIMASA; and Adeniran Aderogba, CEO, Regional Maritime Development Bank.
Others listed include Lekan Badmus, Executive Director (Operations), NPA; Charles Akindiji, Managing Director, SWDC; Ayo Omidiran, Chairman, Federal Character Commission; Nike Omoworare, Commissioner, SWDC and Member, Governing Council; Dayo Eluyemi, Federal Commissioner, FCC; Segun Fanibe, Member, Governing Council; Rotimi Makinde, Chairman, Governing Council; Remi Omowaiye, Executive Director, FHA; Kayode Sowade, Executive Director, OORBDA; Taiwo Olaiya, Chairman, Governing Council; Amidu Tadese, Federal Commissioner, NPC; Oladele Gboyega, Federal Commissioner, RMAFC; Festus Olowogboyega, Federal Commissioner, CSC; Obawale Adebisi, Chairman, Governing Council; Taiwo Oluga, Commissioner, NASC; Bosun Oyintiloye, Member, Governing Council; and Sunday Akere, Osun Renewed Hope Ambassadors.
The forum also cited the 31 LGA Renewed Hope Ambassadors and 332 Ward Renewed Hope Ambassadors as part of the structure it alleged was dominated by one political camp.
Beyond federal appointments, the stakeholders accused Oyetola of single-handedly determining the governorship and deputy governorship candidates, three senatorial candidates, nine House of Representatives candidates and 26 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 consequently urged President Tinubu to order an immediate and independent review of the leadership structure of the Osun APC chapter and the process through which candidates were selected ahead of future elections.
It also called for a reconciliation meeting involving Oyetola, party elders and aggrieved stakeholders, to be supervised by the APC National Working Committee.
On federal appointments, the group appealed to the President to ensure greater fairness and broader representation in appointments from Osun State, arguing that such appointments should reflect the wider membership of the party rather than the interests of a single political camp.
The forum further demanded the establishment of a fact-finding committee to review the conduct of the party’s primaries and investigate concerns raised by party elders before the next election cycle.
As part of its proposed solution, the group called for a state congress to be convened by the National Working Committee to reconstitute what it described as a genuinely representative Osun APC executive.
It also proposed a stakeholders’ reconciliation summit involving all factions, party elders and interest groups within the state chapter.
The forum advocated a transparent and inclusive framework for future candidate selection, based on broad consultation rather than the preference of any individual leader.
It further called for deliberate distribution of federal appointments and future elective opportunities across Osun State’s senatorial districts and various interest groups, rather than concentrating them within one political camp.
“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.
