Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State have petitioned President Bola Tinubu over the party’s defeat to the Accord Party in the recent governorship election.
The petition, signed by Professor Akin Adeyanju, Coordinator, and Sola Ajayi, Secretary, of the Osun APC Stakeholders Forum, expressed concern over the outcome despite what they described as President Tinubu’s strong support for the party.
The stakeholders attributed the APC’s loss largely to the actions of former Osun State Governor and current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola.
They accused Oyetola of concentrating federal and state appointments among his friends, associates, relatives and members of his faction, while allegedly sidelining other party leaders and stakeholders.
According to them, Oyetola also unilaterally influenced the selection of candidates for elective positions without adequately consulting party elders.
The stakeholders said the alleged exclusion created divisions within the party and weakened its support base across the three senatorial districts, contributing significantly to the APC’s defeat on August 15.
They urged President Tinubu to order an independent review of the leadership structure and candidate-selection process of the Osun APC ahead of future elections.
They also called for a reconciliation meeting involving Oyetola, party elders and aggrieved stakeholders, under the supervision of the APC National Working Committee (NWC).
Among other recommendations, the group demanded fairness and broader representation in federal appointments from Osun, as well as a fact-finding committee to investigate the party’s primary election process and concerns raised by stakeholders.
The forum further proposed the conduct of a state congress organised by the NWC to produce a more representative state executive.
It also called for a reconciliation summit involving all factions, elders and interest groups, alongside a transparent candidate-selection process based on wider consultation.
The stakeholders maintained that deliberate efforts to promote inclusiveness, unity and equitable representation would be crucial to rebuilding the APC in Osun State ahead of future elections.
