A coalition of youth and women’s organizations in Osogbo has called on the All Progressives Congress (APC) to zone its governorship ticket for the 2026 Osun State election to the town, citing its strategic electoral significance.
The groups highlighted Osogbo’s strong voter base as a key factor in their demand. According to the coalition, during the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Continuous Voter Registration exercise, Osogbo and Olorunda accounted for more than 300,000 registered voters, representing around 15 percent of the state’s total registration—the highest from any single town in Osun. The coalition argued that this demonstrates a disciplined and highly mobilisable electorate.
Engagements with traditional rulers, community leaders, business figures, and youth organizations, the coalition said, reflect a unified readiness to support an Osogbo-born candidate. “Winning Osogbo has consistently provided a decisive advantage in closely contested elections. Grassroots structures and youth mobilisation networks are already in place,” the statement read.
Following Senator Ajibola Basiru’s withdrawal, two Osogbo-born aspirants remain in the race: Kunle Rasheed Adegoke and Professor Rafiu Durodoye. The coalition stressed that both candidates enjoy widespread goodwill across traditional, civic, and youth constituencies, reflecting the town’s confidence in its ability to lead.
The group urged the APC screening committee to prioritize aspirants from Osogbo and engage them directly to ensure alignment with local stakeholders’ expectations. They further emphasized that Osogbo’s voter mobilisation capacity should be central to the party’s strategy in securing victory in 2026.
Noting that rival parties, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have reserved their governorship tickets for the West Senatorial District, the coalition said the APC has a genuine opportunity to demonstrate balanced representation and reward Osogbo’s consistent support. Selecting a candidate from the town, they said, would acknowledge its role as both a reliable voter base and a key stakeholder in the party’s future success.