Osun APC, Oyetola mum as group petitions Tinubu over poll defeat

The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, have not commented on allegations made by a group accusing them of causing the party's defeat in the recent governorship election. The Osun APC Stakeholders Forum presented these accusations in an open letter to President Bola Tinubu.

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We respectfully submit that the principal reason for our defeat was the conduct of the immediate past governor of the state and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola.

The forum specifically pointed to Oyetola's conduct as the primary reason for the APC's loss to the incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke. According to the letter, signed by the group's coordinator and secretary, Oyetola allegedly made unilateral decisions regarding candidate selection for all elective offices in the state. Furthermore, the group claims he appointed allies, cronies, and kinsmen from his hometown and political faction to federal positions, ignoring advice from party elders.

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In our assessment, he appointed cronies, allies and kinsmen to federal political positions and single-handedly selected all candidates for elective office in the state, disregarding the advice and counsel of party elders who urged him to carry other critical stakeholders along.

The letter detailed that Oyetola allegedly appointed 387 individuals, including 31 local government and 332 ward "Renewed Hope Ambassadors." The forum also accused the former Osun State governor of single-handedly choosing the APC's governorship and deputy governorship candidates, all three senatorial candidates, nine House of Representatives candidates, and 26 House of Assembly candidates for the upcoming elections.

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direct an immediate, independent review of the Osun State chapter’s leadership structure and candidate-selection process ahead of any future elections.

To reposition the party, the group urged President Tinubu to initiate an independent review of the Osun APC's leadership structure and candidate selection process. They also called for a reconciliation meeting, supervised by the National Working Committee, to bring together Oyetola, party elders, and aggrieved stakeholders. Additionally, the forum requested fairness in federal appointments from Osun State, ensuring broader representation beyond a single faction.

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Convene a reconciliation meeting bringing together Oyetola, party elders, and all aggrieved stakeholders in the state under the supervision of the National Working Committee.