A coalition of youth and women’s groups in Osogbo, Nigeria, is urging the All Progressives Congress (APC) to zone its 2026 governorship ticket to the town. The demand rests on Osogbo’s significant electoral weight, which has consistently influenced election outcomes in Osun State. During the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Continuous Voter Registration exercise, over 300,000 voters were registered in Osogbo—about 15 % of the state’s total registration and the highest figure for any single town. The coalition argues that this reflects a disciplined, highly mobilisable electorate.
Through engagement with traditional rulers, community elders, business leaders and youth bodies, the coalition has uncovered a collective resolve to mobilise massively if the APC fields an Osogbo‑born candidate. The town’s voting power, they note, has repeatedly shaped the outcome of close contests, giving any party that wins Osogbo a decisive advantage. With Senator Ajibola Basiru’s withdrawal, two aspirants of Osogbo origin—Kunle Rasheed Adegoke and Professor Rafiu Durodoye—remain in contention. Both enjoy goodwill across the town’s traditional, youth and civic constituencies, reflecting confidence in their capacity to lead.
The coalition is urging the APC screening committee to prioritise Osogbo‑origin aspirants and to engage directly with them to assess alignment with stakeholders’ expectations. It also calls on the party to consider Osogbo’s mobilisation capacity, which it believes is central to securing victory in the 2026 election. As the APC remains in the screening phase, the coalition sees a genuine opportunity for the party to recognise Osogbo’s standing within the state and demonstrate a commitment to balanced representation.
The group’s position is presented in a spirit of partnership and readiness to support a unified, community‑rooted APC campaign. By selecting an Osogbo‑born candidate, the APC would acknowledge the town as both a reliable voter base and a key stakeholder. This demand is specific to the APC, since the other major parties—the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)—have already reserved their 2026 governorship tickets for the West Senatorial District. The APC’s decision will be crucial in determining its chances of winning the 2026 election.
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