Cyril Mbah, Abuja
The National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Dayo Israel, has said the Osun governorship election result must serve as a wake-up call for the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Dayo recalled that Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party was declared winner with 511,067 votes, defeating the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes.
Dr. Israel described the margin as substantial enough to demand honest reflection rather than excuses.
“Democracy requires that we respect the decision of the electorate,” he said in a statement on Sunday. “I congratulate Governor Adeleke and the people of Osun State. I also commend our candidate, members, agents and volunteers who worked tirelessly under difficult circumstances.”
Dr. Israel identified three defining figures of the election: President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Adeleke, and Afrobeat star Davido.
He commended President Tinubu for refusing to weaponise the powers of the presidency during the poll.
According to him, the President’s restraint on Osun, like in Anambra and Bayelsa, shows a commitment to democracy beyond partisan gain. “President Tinubu may have lost Osun for the APC, but he won something larger for Nigeria: that the vote of the Nigerian people must matter,” he stated.
On Governor Adeleke, Dr. Israel said the governor’s dancing, singing and accessibility were not weaknesses but political tools that connected him to the grassroots.
He argued that Osun politics is rooted in culture, tradition and emotion, not just elite discourse in Abuja. “Politics is not only policy. It is emotion, identity, presence and belonging,” he noted.
The APC Youth Leader also highlighted Davido’s role in mobilising young voters and said the singer brought artistes, influencers and digital reach to the campaign, giving it a youthful and cultural resonance.
He questioned why the APC did not deploy similar young voices, asking: “Who are the Davidos in the APC?”
Drawing from the 2022 election, Dr. Israel recalled efforts at reconciliation and grassroots mobilization that were undermined by division and weak structures.
He said the same mistakes were repeated in 2026, with the constitutionally recognized National Youth Wing sidelined and the National Working Committee failing to meet to review the campaign.
He criticised the party’s rally strategy, saying they had become elite speech events instead of grassroots mobilization tools.
“The people who understand the language, emotion and culture of the crowd are often absent from the centre of the programme,” he said, calling for greater inclusion of women leaders, youth coordinators, labour leaders and local grassroots figures.
Dr. Israel urged the APC to confront internal division, rebuild respect for party institutions, and form campaign councils early with proper funding and accountability. He also suggested opening dialogue with Governor Adeleke, noting that in politics, “yesterday’s opponent is sometimes tomorrow’s ally.”
He concluded by stating that the party must empower young communicators, creatives, professionals and women mobilisers if it hopes to win in 2027.
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