Members of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State have been urged to put aside blame and internal divisions and focus on rebuilding the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The call was made by an APC chieftain and former member of the Osun State House of Assembly, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, in a statement issued in Osogbo on Sunday.
Oyintiloye urged party members not to hold any individual leader responsible for the party’s defeat in the recent governorship election, noting that election outcomes are usually influenced by several factors.
According to him, issues such as the popularity of candidates, grassroots mobilisation, party unity, campaign strategy and voter sentiment all play significant roles in determining the outcome of an election.
He cautioned members against engaging in post-election blame games and instead called for an honest and comprehensive assessment of the party’s performance.
“This is not the time to crucify anybody. It is a time for sober reflection, reconciliation and strategic repositioning. No single individual should be made the scapegoat for an outcome that involved many political and electoral factors,” Oyintiloye said.
He urged the party to immediately begin preparations for the 2027 general elections, with a focus on mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu and other APC candidates in Osun State.
“We do not have much time left. We must find a way to turn the governorship loss into victory for Tinubu and other APC candidates,” he added.
Oyintiloye also called for a thorough post-election review of the party’s performance, beginning from the polling-unit level through to the state leadership structure.
While acknowledging the importance of constructive criticism, he warned against allowing personal grievances, anger and political differences to fuel division within the party.
“The 2027 general election is already very close. We cannot afford to spend the next period fighting ourselves. The real work of rebuilding must begin now,” he said.
He further urged party leaders to reconnect with grassroots members and voters, listen to their concerns and develop strategies that could help restore confidence in the party.
The call follows the outcome of the Osun governorship election, which saw incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke declared the winner after polling 511,067 votes, ahead of the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who secured 444,815 votes.
