EDITORIAL: Still On The Osun APC Crisis

The ongoing crisis within the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) continues to attract widespread political commentary and analysis. It appears that some sponsors of the conflict are content with the current state of affairs, which has set loyal party members against power-seeking factions steering its activities. Recently, various factions within the IleriOluwa camp have begun presenting prospective candidates in preparation for the 2026 governorship election. However, is it wise to prepare for another contest while the current crisis remains unresolved?

The deafening silence of party leaders and stakeholders on the issues of suspension, expulsion, and relentless attacks on perceived political adversaries raises serious questions. This silence could suggest two possibilities: either the Osun APC is complacent with its current trajectory, or it has devised an extraordinary strategy to overcome the political hurdles of the next election. Statistically, the party has lost more members than it has gained in the past two years—a worrying trend that cannot be ignored.

A closer examination of the internal conflicts within the Osun APC reveals several “banana peels” created by the party’s current leadership. Is there a genuine framework to review suspensions and expulsions with the aim of unifying the party? For instance, the suspension of key stakeholders, including Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, by the state executive committee—widely perceived as proxies of a federal cabinet member—raises important questions. What were the findings of the committees responsible for these actions? Do they even possess the authority to suspend a former governor and founding member of the party at their level? More importantly, has the national leadership of the APC weighed in to address these issues and suggest ways to strengthen the party ahead of the next election?

READ: EDITORIAL: Is Osun APC Threatened By Aregbesola’s Influence?

Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, the APC National Chairman, recently declared, following the Ondo governorship election victory, that the party is determined to reclaim Osun and Oyo in 2026 and 2027. However, with the current discord, which shows no signs of resolution, is such an aspiration realistic? Are the doors to reconciliation permanently closed, or does the party intend to rely on vote-buying or other undemocratic means to secure victory?

Osun’s political landscape is markedly different from that of states like Ondo and Ekiti, which also share off-cycle election timelines. While the APC has maintained electoral dominance in Ondo and Ekiti since 2018, Osun tells a different story, with its electorate demonstrating higher levels of awareness and engagement.

As the saying goes, “absolute power corrupts absolutely.” The Osun APC must now confront a critical question: will this self-inflicted war of attrition lead the party back to the Oke-Fia Government House, or will it consign it to the role of a perpetual opposition? Only time, the fairest of all judges, will provide the answer.