While commending Tinubu for his leadership and support for the APC before and after the election, the group argued that the party’s loss occurred despite the President’s backing.

It specifically accused Oyetola of dominating the distribution of federal appointments and the selection of electoral candidates, allegedly favouring his allies, associates and people from his political circle.

The group stated, “We respectfully submit that the principal reason for our defeat was the conduct of the immediate past governor of the state and Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola.”

The group also attached a list of individuals it claimed had benefited from federal appointments under the political structure associated with the former governor.

Among those listed were Oyetola; the APC governorship candidate and Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority, Bola Oyebamiji; his running mate, Benjamin Adereti; and Dayo Babaranti, identified as an Executive Director of the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation.

The list also included Fatai Adeyemi, Adeniran Aderogba, Lekan Badmus, Charles Akindiji, Ayo Omidiran, Nike Omoworare, Dayo Eluyemi, Segun Fanibe, Rotimi Makinde, Remi Omowaiye, Kayode Sowade, Taiwo Olaiya, Amidu Tadese, Oladele Gboyega, Festus Olowogboyega, Obawale Adebisi, Taiwo Oluga, Bosun Oyintiloye and Sunday Akere.

The forum further claimed that 31 local government Renewed Hope Ambassadors and 332 ward-level Renewed Hope Ambassadors were appointed from what it described as the same political tendency.

Beyond appointments, the group alleged that Oyetola had a significant influence over the selection of the party’s candidates for elective positions.

It said the alleged process covered the governorship and deputy governorship tickets, three senatorial seats, nine House of Representatives positions and 26 State House of Assembly seats.

According to the stakeholders, the alleged concentration of appointments and political opportunities alienated sections of the party’s grassroots and weakened its support across the state.

The letter stated, “We believe this pattern of exclusion left the party’s base disengaged and cost us the support of critical stakeholders and communities across the state’s three senatorial districts, contributing directly to our defeat on August 15.”

The Osun APC Stakeholders Forum urged Tinubu to order an independent assessment of the party’s leadership structure in the state and the process through which candidates were selected for the election.

It also called for a reconciliation meeting involving Oyetola, party elders and aggrieved members, with the APC National Working Committee providing oversight.

The group further demanded a review of the distribution of federal appointments in Osun and the establishment of a fact-finding committee to investigate the party’s primary elections and complaints reportedly raised by some stakeholders.

The group said future candidate selection should be based on wider consultations rather than the decision of an individual political leader.

It equally called for federal appointments and future electoral tickets to be distributed across Osun’s three senatorial districts and among the different tendencies within the party.

The results came a day after the Coalition of Opposition Parties in Bauchi State announced it was withdrawing from the election entirely. The coalition accused organisers of designing the exercise to benefit the ruling APM, and urged members not to participate.

Governor Bala Mohammed pushed back on those claims shortly after casting his own vote, describing the electoral process as peaceful. He said the withdrawal of opposition parties did not affect the validity or legitimacy of the outcome.

The Bauchi State Government had declared Monday a work-free day across the state to allow civil servants and other public workers, including those at the local government, state, and federal levels, as well as banking sector employees, to participate in the election.

The APC National Organising Secretary, Alhaji Suleiman Muhammad Argungu, disclosed the decision at the Presidential Lodge in Birnin Kebbi.

Suleiman revealed the party’s stand during a thank-you visit by stakeholders from the Argungu Emirate to the governor.

According to Suleiman, the party reached the decision based on professional legal advice on Arugungu’s eligibility as the governor’s running mate.

“The present Deputy Governor was dropped as the running mate to Governor Nasir Idris Kauran Gwandu for the 2027 general election based on professional legal advice,” he said.

Suleiman further stated that the decision was reached with the understanding and consent of the current Deputy Governor of the state, adding that there was no disagreement between the governor and his deputy.

He called on politicians, APC members, and supporters across the state to accept the development and work together for the party’s success in the 2027 election.

Speaking with journalists after the event, Governor Nasir Idris also dismissed any suggestion of a disagreement between him and the outgoing deputy governor.

The governor assured party members and supporters that he would work with the new running mate and urged them to remain united and focused on the state’s development.

Ibrahim Muhammad Augie is a former Commissioner for Finance in Kebbi State during the administration of former Governor Atiku Bagudu. He hails from Augie Local Government Area.