By Halimah Olamide
Defeated former Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola on Thursday said the All Progressive Congress remains the party to beat in Osun state. Oyetola, who lost the petition against incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke on Tuesday vowed that with the reconciliation committee under the leadership of former Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, the party looks set to recapture power in 2026.
“This is why I believe that the Prof. Adewole’s committee is not only expedient now but necessary to reposition our dear party.
“After the 2018 governorship election, the outcome of the 2019 General Elections showed significant improvement in our party’s fortunes in our dear state. “Despite the challenges of the July 16 2022, governorship election, the number of persons who voted for our party in that election significantly improved from what we recorded in 2018. This clearly shows that our party, the APC is still popular and remains the party to beat in Osun, any time, any day.
“Osun electorate again demonstrated their love for the APC in the last Presidential election as they gave our president-elect 343,945 votes, despite the intimidation, violence and killings that characterised that election.
“But we must sustain the love the people of Osun have for the APC. This is why we are repositioning the party. I, therefore, urge you all to cooperate with the committee as this is the only way to further build the party and reposition it ahead of future elections,” Oyetola added. Oyetola was defeated by Adeleke in the July 16 2022 election. The election tribunal however ruled in favour of Oyetola leading Adeleke to challenge the decision at the Appeal tribunal which ruled in his favour. Dissatisfied, Oyetola had approached the Supreme Court to challenge his ouster. The apex court however ruled in favour of Adeleke on Tuesday.
Recall that the APC had lost all three senatorial, nine House of Representatives and 25 out of 26 House of Assembly seats in the last general elections. The PDP in the state had said that the victories confirmed its strength over the APC in Osun.