Osun APC Youth Forum Defends Oyetola, Rejects Blame for 2026 Governorship Election Loss
The Osun APC Youth Forum has rejected attempts to blame the party’s defeat in the August 15, 2026 governorship election on the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, describing such claims as misleading and politically motivated.
In an open letter addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and dated August 20, 2026, the group challenged the narrative contained in a purported letter by the “Osun APC Stakeholders Forum,” which allegedly attributed the party’s electoral setback largely to Oyetola’s leadership and political influence in the state.
The Osun APC Youth Forum argued that the election results did not support the portrayal of the Osun APC as a weakened political structure or the suggestion that one individual was responsible for the party’s performance.
According to the group, the APC secured more than 444,000 votes in the election, representing an increase of more than 70,000 votes over the party’s performance in the 2022 governorship election.
The forum said the figures demonstrated that the APC still maintained substantial electoral strength across Osun State and that the party’s defeat should therefore be subjected to a broader and more objective analysis.
Youth Forum Rejects Oyetola Scapegoating
The group particularly took exception to what it described as an attempt to make Oyetola the principal reason for the APC’s electoral outcome.
It noted that Oyetola had remained one of the party’s prominent figures in Osun since leaving office as governor in 2022, maintaining his commitment to the APC even when some political actors withdrew from the party following its previous electoral defeat.
The forum also highlighted what it described as Oyetola’s contributions to the state, including facilitating federal government presence and opportunities for Osun, supporting the appointment of indigenes and APC members into federal institutions, and participating in political mobilisation, strategic engagements and reconciliation efforts.
It consequently argued that portraying the minister as solely responsible for the August 15 outcome was unfair and amounted to turning a legitimate post-election conversation into political score-settling.
Federal Appointments: Youth Forum Rejects Allegation of Exclusion
The Osun APC Youth Forum also disputed claims that federal appointments associated with Oyetola demonstrated geographical or political exclusion within Osun State.
According to the group, the appointments referenced in the disputed letter cut across the three senatorial districts and the nine federal constituencies of the state, with appointees serving in ministries, agencies, commissions, governing councils and other federal institutions.
The forum maintained that disagreement with an individual appointment should not automatically be presented as evidence of systematic exclusion.
It challenged those making such allegations to identify specific appointments, establish the alleged violations and provide evidence to substantiate their claims.
“The Real Question Is How APC Builds on 444,000 Votes”
Rather than focusing on individual blame, the group urged APC leaders and stakeholders to concentrate on rebuilding the party ahead of future elections.
It raised a number of questions it said should form the basis of the party’s post-election review: how the APC can convert more than 444,000 votes into a winning coalition, how it can expand its support across the three senatorial districts and nine federal constituencies, and how ward-level mobilisation and reconciliation can be improved.
The forum further asked how the APC could attract new voters while retaining its existing supporters.
It argued that these issues were more important to the future of the party than personal grievances, political ambitions or attempts to settle scores among party leaders.
Call for Reconciliation and Unity
The Osun APC Youth Forum appealed to President Tinubu and other party leaders to approach the post-election situation with fairness, objectivity and the broader interest of the APC in mind.
The group said that if there were genuine structural challenges within the Osun APC, stakeholders should come together to address them rather than resorting to blame games and division.
It called for reconciliation, unity, strategic rebuilding and stronger grassroots mobilisation, stressing that the more than 444,000 votes recorded by the APC should be regarded as a foundation upon which the party can rebuild and ultimately reclaim political power in Osun State.
The letter was signed by the forum’s Coordinator, Mojeed Aderogba, and Secretary, Adekunle Omsakin.
The group concluded by reiterating its position that Oyetola should not be made the scapegoat for the outcome of the August 15 governorship election, while urging APC stakeholders to focus on rebuilding the party and preparing for future electoral contests.
