Osun APC Gains Momentum as PDP Defectors Join Ahead of 2026 Elections
High-Profile Crossovers and Oyetola’s Leadership Fuel Speculation of a Strong APC Comeback in Osun State
Recent events in Osun State have stirred the political waters, with several high-profile members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) making the bold move to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the past two years. Notable among these defectors are Wole Oke, the House of Representatives member for Oriade/Obokun, and former Senator Felix Ogunwale.
These shifts are seen as a major boost for the APC, which lost the governorship to the PDP in 2022. Supporters now believe the party is well-positioned to make a strong comeback in the 2026 governorship and 2027 general elections.
On social media, APC supporters are expressing strong optimism about the party’s chances. They highlight the party’s previous victories in Osun State during the 2011, 2015, and 2019 presidential elections, as well as its ability to secure over 340,000 votes in 2023 despite losing control of the state government.
The idea of a “united” APC, now free from internal conflicts and welcoming new members, is generating buzz and keeping the party in the spotlight.
Leadership is a central theme in the ongoing discussions. Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, the former governor and current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, is credited with maintaining the APC structure after the 2022 loss.
Reports suggest that Oyetola has struck a deal with Wole Oke for a joint ticket in the 2026 governorship race, a move that could strengthen the party’s appeal in the Ijesha zone and beyond.
The PDP, however, is downplaying the impact of these defections. PDP chairman Sunday Bisi has dismissed them as “overhyped and lacking political weight.” Meanwhile, the APC’s messaging, especially on social media, frames these defections as a sign of PDP’s weakening hold on Osun State.
This has sparked heated debates online, with some users calling the APC’s claims “propaganda” and others celebrating the defections as “proof of PDP’s decline.”
As the 2026 governorship and 2027 general elections draw closer, Osun’s political landscape is heating up. The APC’s recent activities, including testing its grassroots support during the local government crisis earlier this year, are seen as part of its strategy to reclaim lost ground.
The party’s loss of all National Assembly seats and most state assembly seats in 2023 has made its current resurgence a hot topic. Observers note that Oyetola’s ministerial position is being leveraged to influence local politics, adding to the attention.
At the national level, the APC is aligning itself with President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda,” with party leaders urging opposition parties to “support Tinubu’s administration.”
This national strategy is seen as part of the reason why Osun APC is trending now. The use of symbolic imagery and the Yoruba phrase “ELOFOKANBALE,” meaning “let’s stay united,” is resonating with supporters and helping the party’s message reach more people.
Osun APC is becoming the high-profile defections from PDP, the strategic leadership of Gboyega Oyetola, and the party’s confident push to reclaim power in the next elections. The mix of local politics, national strategy, and lively online debates is keeping Osun APC at the center of Nigeria’s political discourse.
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