A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has urged the party’s leaders and members to treat its recent governorship election defeat as a wake-up call ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Oyintiloye called on APC members to avoid blame games and instead focus on rebuilding the party’s structures and restoring confidence among voters.
He said the party should immediately begin efforts to reposition itself to secure stronger support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other APC candidates in the 2027 elections.
According to him, the recent setback should not be allowed to create divisions among party members. Rather, he said it should provide an opportunity for the APC to examine its weaknesses and develop strategies to improve its electoral performance.
Oyintiloye argued that elections are influenced by several factors, including the popularity of candidates, grassroots mobilisation, party unity, campaign strategies and the mood of voters. He therefore cautioned against blaming one individual for the outcome of the Osun governorship election.
He urged party leaders to conduct a comprehensive post-election review, beginning from the polling-unit level and extending to local government and state party structures.
The APC chieftain also stressed the importance of constructive criticism, saying honest assessment would help the party identify areas where it needs to improve.
However, he warned members against criticism motivated by anger, personal grievances or attempts to settle political disputes.
Oyintiloye said the 2027 general election was approaching rapidly and that the party could not afford to spend valuable time fighting among itself.
He called for reconciliation among members and urged APC leaders to reconnect with grassroots supporters and voters across the state.
According to him, listening to the concerns of residents and understanding the reasons behind voter dissatisfaction would be important to rebuilding the party’s support base.
The APC chieftain also encouraged the party to develop strategies capable of restoring public confidence and strengthening its organisation ahead of the 2027 elections.
His comments followed the recent Osun governorship election, in which incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke defeated APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji. Adeleke was declared winner after securing 511,067 votes, while Oyebamiji polled 444,815 votes, according to the reported election results.
Oyintiloye described the APC’s defeat as a setback rather than the end of the party’s political prospects in Osun State.
He maintained that political fortunes can change and that the party still has an opportunity to rebuild its structures and regain the confidence of voters.
He therefore urged members to begin the rebuilding process immediately rather than waiting until the 2027 election campaign is fully underway.
The call comes as political parties across Nigeria intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections.
For the APC, the Osun result is likely to influence its strategy as the party assesses its grassroots organisation and electoral performance ahead of the national contest.
Oyintiloye said unity, reconciliation, grassroots engagement and strategic planning would be essential if the party hopes to improve its performance in future elections.
