...congratulates Governor Adeleke on relection
The National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Dayo Israel, has called for a major rethink of the party’s mobilisation strategy following its defeat in the 2026 Osun State governorship election.
Israel, in a post-election assessment titled “Osun Has Spoken: The Bitter Truth APC Must Hear Before 2027,” said the party must stop treating its youth and women wings as mere tools for filling stadiums during rallies.
Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party defeated APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji in the election, securing 511,067 votes against Oyebamiji’s 444,815 votes.
While congratulating Adeleke and commending APC members who participated in the campaign, Israel urged the party to engage in honest introspection rather than resorting to blame or setting up committees whose recommendations may not be implemented.
According to him, the election exposed significant weaknesses in the APC’s grassroots mobilisation, internal reconciliation and campaign structure ahead of the 2027 general election.
Israel identified President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Adeleke and music star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, as three defining figures in the election.
He praised President Tinubu for allowing Osun voters to freely determine the outcome of the election, describing the President’s restraint as a demonstration of commitment to democracy.
On Adeleke, Israel said the governor’s accessibility, cultural identity, singing and dancing should not have been dismissed by political opponents, arguing that they helped him establish an emotional connection with grassroots voters.
He also credited Davido with playing a significant role in youth mobilisation through his influence, networks, music and digital reach.
“Who are the Davidos in the APC?” Israel asked, stressing the need for the party to identify and empower young Nigerians capable of mobilising their generation.
The APC youth leader further criticised what he described as the sidelining of the constitutionally recognised National Youth Wing during the Osun campaign.
He argued that the youth structure should not be activated merely to “fill stadiums” at rallies or sidelined in favour of ad hoc support groups.
“The National Youth Wing should not be activated only to fill stadiums or sidelined for support groups,” he said, adding that the same principle should apply to the party’s Women’s Wing.
Israel also called for a transformation of APC rallies, saying they should be treated as strategic mobilisation platforms rather than ceremonies dominated by political elites.
He urged the party to give greater roles to local political leaders, youth coordinators, women mobilisers, community organisers, cultural figures and other grassroots actors who understand the language and concerns of local voters.
He further identified internal division as one of the party’s major weaknesses, urging APC leaders to pursue reconciliation and accommodation ahead of 2027.
“Politics is addition. Sometimes it requires humility, accommodation and strategic reconciliation,” he said.
Israel also advocated early formation and funding of campaign councils, arguing that councils established only weeks before elections cannot effectively build the structures required to win statewide contests.
He concluded by urging the APC to rebuild its internal institutions, reconcile divisions and empower young communicators, creatives, professionals, digital influencers, campus leaders, community organisers and women mobilisers.
“Osun has spoken. The APC must now listen,” Israel said.
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