Osun loss: APC youth leader urges major party overhaul

The All Progressives Congress (APC) must undertake a significant strategic overhaul following its defeat in the Osun State governorship election, according to the party's National Youth Leader, Dayo Israel. Israel warned that the lessons from the poll could have serious implications for the 2027 general election if the party fails to learn from its mistakes.

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Osun has spoken: The bitter truth APC must hear before 2027.

In a post-election assessment, Israel stressed that the defeat should not be met with excuses or blame-shifting but should prompt an honest review of the party's campaign structure, grassroots mobilization, internal cohesion, and engagement with young people and women. He credited President Bola Tinubu for allowing the Osun electorate to freely determine the election's outcome and praised Governor Ademola Adeleke for building a strong grassroots connection. Israel also acknowledged music star Davido for mobilizing young voters for the opposition.

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The Osun governorship election has been won and lost. Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord has been declared re-elected with 511,067 votes, defeating our candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who received 444,815 votes.

Israel cautioned that electoral politics extends beyond elite approval and policy arguments, emphasizing the need for genuine grassroots connections. He noted that Governor Adeleke's personal style, including his dancing and accessibility, helped him establish an emotional connection with voters that opponents underestimated. The APC youth leader advised his party to stop assuming that sophistication in elite circles automatically translates into votes at the grassroots, stating that politics involves emotion, identity, presence, and belonging, not just policy.

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That margin is substantial enough to demand honest reflection, not excuses, blame-shifting or the familiar ritual of assembling another committee whose report may never change how we campaign.

The APC youth leader identified Davido as another significant factor, particularly in mobilizing young voters through his influence and digital networks. Israel concluded that the party must understand that electoral value is not solely derived from sophistication in political circles.

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For years, some members of the political elite have reduced Governor Adeleke to his dancing. That assessment has always underestimated both the man and the nature of Osun politics.