Farouk Aliyu blames APC’s Osun loss on internal divisions, saying angry members withheld support for Bola Oyebamiji during the governorship election
All Progressives Congress chieftain Farouk Aliyu on Monday, August 17, 2026, blamed the party’s defeat in the Osun State governorship election on internal divisions and anger among members over the emergence of Bola Oyebamiji as the APC candidate.
Also read: NDC Hails Adeleke’s Osun Victory as Democratic Triumph
Speaking on ARISE Television’s Morning Show, Aliyu said the APC had made extensive efforts to win the election but was weakened by disagreements within its ranks.
“We did everything possible, humanly possible, to win the election,” Aliyu said.
The former lawmaker said the controversy surrounding the party’s candidate was one of the major factors that affected the APC’s performance at the polls.
According to Aliyu, while some APC members worked for Oyebamiji’s victory, others withheld their support because they were unhappy with the process that produced him as the party’s candidate.
The internal disagreement, he suggested, deprived the APC of the unity required to mount a strong challenge against incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke.
Adeleke secured re-election after polling 511,067 votes, defeating Oyebamiji, who recorded 444,815 votes.
The result gave the Accord Party candidate a winning margin of 66,252 votes.
Aliyu’s assessment provides an important insight into the APC’s campaign after a closely fought contest in which the party was unable to regain control of Osun despite its significant political presence.
He said the party would need to examine its candidate-selection process and find ways of ensuring that candidates emerging from future contests receive broader acceptance among party members.
The APC chieftain also commended the Federal Government for the conduct of the election, saying earlier expectations that the ruling party could manipulate the process did not materialise.
He accepted the result and acknowledged that Osun voters had made their choice.
The comments come as the APC begins to assess its performance in Osun, with the outcome likely to fuel wider discussions within the party about internal cohesion, candidate selection and its preparations for the 2027 general election.
Also read: NDC Hails Adeleke’s Osun Victory as Democratic Triumph
For the party, the defeat offers a sobering reminder that political strength at the national level does not necessarily translate into electoral success when internal disagreements remain unresolved at state level.
