The Deputy National Chairman of the Consolidated APC Grassroots Movement (CAGraM) South, APC, Agbi Stephen Omobamidele, has described the outcome of the Osun governorship election as a wake-up call for the party, urging urgent reforms in loyalty, structure and political management ahead of 2027.

In a statement issued in reaction to the just-concluded Osun election, Omobamidele said the result should not be a moment for lamentation but one for sober reflection, honest assessment and strategic correction.

According to him, the Osun result shows that elections are not won on election day.

“Elections are never won on election day. They are won long before ballots are cast, through loyalty, structure, sacrifice, and the deliberate reward of those who build the party from the ground up,” he said.

Omobamidele noted that while the APC remains a strong national force, strength without coordination, discipline and a reward for loyalty is not enough.

He lamented that thousands of party members who mobilised, defended and built APC structures during difficult times are often sidelined when opportunities arise, adding that proximity to power has become the main qualification for recognition.

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“That is neither fair nor sustainable. We must correct this imbalance,” he stated.

The APC chieftain said the Osun experience was not about individuals but a systemic challenge in political management.

“Every leader, from former governors to ministers, senators, and party executives, must understand that political office is not a reward for ambition, but a responsibility to build, deepen, and sustain structures,” he said.

He added that the party is not short of people or capacity but sometimes lacks “coordination, inclusion, and the disciplined utilisation of our political capital.”

Omobamidele, however, stated that political power is sustained not by positions but by people.

He warned against the culture of political exclusion, saying, “A party that does not reward its builders will eventually lose its foundation.”

“The 2026 Osun result shows clearly that while APC improved its vote base, our opponents expanded theirs faster. That is the real lesson.

“Let it be said clearly: APC has benefited immensely from the sacrifices of its grassroots members. They must not become invisible when recognition and responsibility are being shared.

“Osun should not breed blame. It should produce reform. We must rebuild trust, strengthen unity, reward loyalty, and restore confidence in the APC as a party that values its people.

“If we get this right, 2027 will not be a struggle. It will be consolidation. But if we ignore these lessons, Osun will not be the last warning. The seed we fail to sow today, we cannot expect to reap tomorrow.”