The National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Dr Dayo Israel, has called on the party to draw hard lessons from its defeat in the 2026 Osun State governorship election, warning that unresolved internal divisions, weak grassroots mobilisation and poor engagement with young voters could hurt the APC ahead of the 2027 general election.
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Israel spoke on Sunday in a statement titled, “Osun Has Spoken: The Bitter Truth APC Must Hear Before 2027,” following the re-election of Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party.
Adeleke was declared winner after polling 511,067 votes, defeating the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who scored 444,815 votes.
Israel said the result should trigger “honest reflection” within the APC rather than blame-shifting, stressing that the party must confront the weaknesses exposed by the election.
He identified President Bola Tinubu, Adeleke and Afrobeats singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, as three defining figures in the election.
On Tinubu, the APC youth leader commended the President for allowing the people of Osun to make their choice, saying the outcome demonstrated a commitment to the democratic process even though it did not favour the ruling party.
Turning to Adeleke, Israel said the governor’s strong grassroots connection and cultural identity played an important role in his victory.
According to him, Adeleke’s accessibility, public engagement, singing and dancing helped him establish an emotional connection with voters that went beyond conventional policy arguments.
“Politics is not only policy. It is emotion, identity, presence and belonging,” Israel said.
He also singled out Davido for his role in mobilising young voters, saying the singer effectively used his influence, networks, music and digital reach to connect the campaign with a younger generation.
That, Israel said, should force the APC to ask whether it has enough young personalities capable of inspiring and mobilising young Nigerians.
“Who are the Davidos in the APC?” he asked.
He urged the party to identify, develop and empower young communicators, creatives, professionals, digital voices, campus leaders and community organisers who can connect authentically with younger voters.
Israel also revisited the APC’s defeat in the 2022 Osun governorship election, arguing that internal division, weak reconciliation and fragmented mobilisation contributed to that loss and that some of those problems remained unresolved in 2026.
He said the party must stop relying excessively on ad hoc election arrangements and instead strengthen its constitutional structures well before campaign periods.
The APC youth leader further disclosed that the National Youth Wing was not meaningfully engaged in the 2026 Osun campaign, describing the situation as part of a broader institutional weakness within the party.
He called for greater involvement of the youth and women wings in campaign planning, strategy and grassroots mobilisation, rather than limiting their roles mainly to providing crowds at political rallies.
“A rally is not a ceremony. It is a mobilisation tool,” Israel said.
He argued that campaign structures should deliberately empower local political leaders, community organisers, women mobilisers and youth coordinators who understand their communities and are better positioned to communicate with voters at the grassroots.
Israel also identified internal division as a major challenge confronting the APC and called for genuine reconciliation, accommodation and strategic engagement among members.
According to him, the party must remain open to political dialogue and realignment, recognising that today’s political opponents could become tomorrow’s allies.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general election, Israel urged the APC to establish its campaign councils early, provide them with adequate resources, assign clear responsibilities and introduce mechanisms for accountability.
He said rebuilding the party’s internal institutions, resolving internal grievances and strengthening grassroots mobilisation should form the core of its preparations for 2027.
“President Tinubu gave us a democratic contest. Governor Adeleke understood his people. Davido understood his generation,” Israel said.
“The question is whether the APC understands its own lesson.”
He maintained that his intervention was not intended to assign blame but to encourage institutional renewal and strategic reflection within the ruling party.
“Osun has spoken. The APC must now listen,” he added.
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