Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State have petitioned President Bola Tinubu over the party’s defeat in the recent governorship election, accusing former governor and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, of being responsible for the loss.
The petition, signed by Professor Akin Adeyanju, Coordinator of the Osun APC Stakeholders Forum, and Sola Ajayi, Secretary, expressed disappointment over the outcome of the election despite President Tinubu’s support for the party.
The group claimed that Oyetola’s leadership style, particularly his alleged control of appointments and candidate selection, contributed significantly to the party’s poor performance.
According to the stakeholders, the former governor “unilaterally selected all candidates for elective offices in the state” while ignoring the advice of party elders and other key stakeholders.
They also accused Oyetola of favouring his allies, friends and relatives in federal appointments, alleging that the move created divisions within the party and weakened its support base across Osun’s three senatorial districts.
The petition stated that the alleged exclusion of important party members and communities “directly contributed to our defeat on August 15.”
The stakeholders urged President Tinubu to order an independent review of the Osun APC leadership structure and candidate selection process ahead of future elections.
They also called for a reconciliation meeting involving Oyetola, party elders and aggrieved members, to be supervised by the APC National Working Committee.
Other demands include ensuring fairness in federal appointments from Osun, setting up a fact-finding committee to investigate complaints surrounding the party’s primaries, and creating a more inclusive system for future candidate selection.
The group recommended the conduct of a state congress to produce a more representative APC executive, as well as a reconciliation summit to unite different factions and interest groups within the party.
They further advised the party to adopt a transparent process for selecting candidates and ensure future appointments and political opportunities reflect the interests of all senatorial districts in the state.
Samuel Agada is a writer and media contributor from Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria. He is a graduate of Biochemistry from the University of Jos and a former banker with GTBank and FCMB. A prolific writer, songwriter, educator, and Gospel preacher, he is passionate about informing, inspiring, and impacting society through his work.