Osun 2026: Why APC Should Field Gubernatorial Candidate From Ife- Owojori

A call has gone to political gladiators in Osun state, on the need to zone the governorship candidate for 2026 gubernatorial election to Ile-Ife.

A political analyst, Ayobami Owojori popularly called Radical in a statement said for All Progressives Congress (APC) to sweep its way back to power come 2026, was for the party to pick its flag-bearer from the cradle of Yoruba.

Owojori, who is an APC member from
Iremo Ward 2 in Ife Central local Government, opined that the party might not triumph, if it fails to consider someone from Ile-Ife as the candidate of the party in the next gubernatorial election.

He said going by the Ife political landscape, there are number of politicians who have the wherewithal to govern the state to the promised land.

According to him, going by their antecedents, there are prominent Indigenes of the town who, by virtue of everything have what it takes to lead the state.

According to him, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Senator Babajide Omoworare, Honourable Rotimi Makinde, Hon Folorunsho Oladoyin, Prince Sikiru Ayedun, Prof Taiwo Olaiya Owojori, Mr Sola Lawal among others are fit to rule the state, if anyone of them is given the mandate to rule the state.

He said: “I am a politician and can support whoever I want but this is not even the issue now. I have not seen any notable Ife son or daughter make bold to contest.

“My aim is to let members, leaders and electable members of APC Ife-land be aware that we need to consider Ile-Ife for Governorship if we want to help APC Osun to claim the Governor’s seat in 2026.

“PDP members on Ile-Ife WhatsApp Groups are clear about their agenda that Ile-Ife should wait till 2030 after Governor Adeleke has fulfilled his second term ambition.

“If God says 2026 is Ile-Ife’s turn, the Governor can never come from PDP. It is not that PDP has no qualified Ife man to vie for the position, naturally Prof. Wale Ladipo, the current Deputy Governor Prince Kola Adewusi or even Hon Taofeek Ajilesoro will make good aspirants but the politics of incumbency will never allow them to contest against Governor Adeleke.

“PDP members in Ile-Ife should understand that Governorship is not a matter of zoning or that a senatorial district must spend two terms before it moves to another one.

“Gov Bisi Akande was defeated after one term, Gov Oyinlola was also defeated after one term according to the court that gave it to Aregbesola in 2010. Gov Oyetola was defeated also after one term. Gov Adeleke is not exceptional or different from all the Governors we have in the past and nothing guarantees his re-election.

“If APC should allow someone from Osun Central to become our candidate and Adeleke is defeated, Osun West will start the clamour again after four or eight years.

Meanwhile, that new person from Osun Central will want another four years, making eight years. Same goes for if APC fields someone from Osun West who defeats Gov Adeleke, the person will want to spend eight years. Igba wo lo to ma kan wa n’Ife?, He asked.