The just concluded governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State have once again reshaped the political atmosphere of the state and opened a new chapter in the democratic journey of the Land of Virtue. Beyond the emergence of Alhaji Munirudeen Bolaji Oyebanji (AMBO) as the party’s governorship candidate, the primaries have also exposed the growing political maturity within the APC and reaffirmed the strategic leadership capacity of former Governor and current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Asiwaju Adegboyega Oyetola.
For many observers, the APC primary election was not merely a political contest; it was a major test of leadership, party discipline, crisis management and democratic coordination. In a political environment where party primaries often degenerate into bitterness, litigation, factionalization and violence, the Osun APC demonstrated uncommon political restraint, maturity and organizational discipline.
The greatest credit for this must undoubtedly go to Oyetola, whose calm, strategic and inclusive leadership style prevented internal disagreements from escalating into destructive crises. Politics naturally comes with competing interests, ambitions and expectations. However, the ability of a leader to manage these interests peacefully often determines whether a political party emerges stronger or weaker after internal contests.
In the case of Osun APC, Oyetola rose above sentiments, personal interests and political provocations to provide leadership that reassured party stakeholders across the various tendencies within the party. Through consultations, dialogue, persuasion and political maturity, he successfully guided the party through a potentially difficult period and ensured that unity prevailed over division.
This singular achievement has now laid a solid political foundation for the emergence and strengthening of AMBO’s candidacy ahead of the August 15, 2026 governorship election.
The atmosphere across Osun State today clearly reveals that many citizens are increasingly yearning for a new direction, a more intellectually driven leadership structure and a government founded on competence, seriousness and administrative capacity. The political reality is that governance in the twenty-first century requires more than populism, media excitement and emotional political performance. Modern governance requires knowledge, planning, strategic thinking, fiscal discipline and administrative intelligence.
This is why the emergence of AMBO has generated hope among many progressive-minded citizens across the state. AMBO is widely perceived as a well-prepared technocrat with sound educational background, deep professional expertise, administrative exposure and strategic understanding of governance.
Unlike politics driven merely by noise, drama and propaganda, AMBO represents preparation, competence and developmental vision. He belongs to a generation of leaders who understand that governance is serious business requiring intellectual depth, emotional stability, policy understanding and managerial competence.
Osun State occupies a unique position in Nigeria’s political and intellectual history. The state has produced distinguished scholars, jurists, professors, technocrats, diplomats, administrators and nationally respected intellectuals. From the ancient cultural sophistication of Ile-Ife to the intellectual traditions of Ijesaland, Ede, Ikirun, Ila-Orangun, Iwo and Osogbo, Osun has historically stood as a state of enlightened people with strong educational consciousness.
It therefore becomes painful to many citizens when the image of the state is reduced to political comedy, media theatrics and embarrassing public conduct that diminishes the seriousness of governance. Governance should inspire confidence, intellectual respect and administrative dignity. A governor is not merely a political entertainer; he is the chief executive officer of the state, the symbol of institutional authority and the face of the people before the nation and the international community.
Many citizens now openly express concern that Osun State deserves leadership capable of articulating policies clearly, defending budgets intelligently, engaging investors confidently and participating meaningfully in national discussions among governors and policy makers. Leadership requires intellectual engagement, policy understanding and strategic communication.
There is growing concern among many stakeholders that Osun State has gradually drifted into a style of governance excessively dominated by populist performance rather than institutional seriousness. Increasingly, citizens complain about what has now become popularly described as “Ijoba Idile Kan” — a system many perceive as concentrating influence and control around a narrow family structure rather than strong democratic institutions.
Democracy flourishes where institutions are respected, where merit is rewarded and where public administration is guided by competence rather than excessive family interference. Osun people must therefore reflect deeply on the kind of future they truly desire for the coming generation.
The August 15, 2026 governorship election will therefore represent more than an ordinary political contest. It will be a referendum on the future identity of Osun State. It will determine whether the state continues along the path of emotional populism or returns to progressive governance rooted in knowledge, planning, discipline and institutional development.
Another major factor strengthening the APC ahead of the election is the strategic role currently being played by Hon. Oluwole Oke as Director General of the Campaign Council. Hon. Wole Oke remains one of the most experienced grassroots politicians in Osun State. His deep understanding of the political terrain, his mobilization strength and his wide political networks across constituencies make him a valuable asset to the APC campaign structure.
Beyond his political influence, Hon. Wole Oke’s organizational ability and electoral experience provide strategic direction for the party’s preparations ahead of the governorship election. His involvement has further reassured many party members that the APC is serious about rebuilding confidence among the people and presenting a credible alternative to the current administration.
Indeed, one of the greatest strengths of the APC today is the increasing realization among stakeholders that unity remains the only path to victory. The APC primary election has demonstrated that disagreements can be resolved through mature leadership and internal democratic mechanisms without destroying party cohesion.
Osun people must now begin to rise above ethnic, religious and sectional sentiments. Politics of division can never produce sustainable development. The future of Osun State must be built on unity, collective vision and shared aspirations. Whether Christian or Muslim, whether from Ijesa, Ife, Osogbo, Ede, Iwo or Ila, the people share common developmental challenges requiring serious and competent leadership.
The state urgently needs infrastructural renewal, youth empowerment, educational revitalization, industrial development, agricultural modernization and sustainable economic planning. These objectives require a governor with intellectual depth, administrative understanding and practical experience.
At this critical period, Osun State cannot afford leadership driven merely by propaganda, social media optics and populist excitement. Governance is too important to be reduced to political entertainment.
The next governor of Osun State must be capable of sitting confidently with investors, development partners, policy experts and international organizations to negotiate opportunities beneficial to the state. Such leadership requires preparation, intelligence, communication skills and strategic administrative competence.
AMBO appears prepared for such responsibility. His educational exposure, professional background and technocratic orientation position him as someone capable of providing policy-based governance rather than emotionally driven administration.
Furthermore, the calm manner in which APC leaders managed the primary election has further strengthened public confidence in the party’s readiness for governance. Political maturity is one of the strongest indicators of leadership capacity. A party unable to manage itself internally cannot effectively manage a state. Fortunately, the Osun APC has demonstrated increasing organizational stability and strategic coordination.
Former Governor, Asiwaju Oyetola also deserves commendation for refusing to allow political bitterness to overshadow the larger objective of party unity and democratic stability. Leadership is often tested not during periods of peace but during moments of tension and competing interests. His ability to maintain cohesion within the APC has become one of the major political advantages currently positioning the party strongly ahead of the election.
Across many communities in Osun State today, there is growing conversation about the need to restore dignity, seriousness and intellectual respectability to governance. Citizens increasingly desire a government capable of speaking confidently about economic policy, educational reforms, infrastructural development and investment opportunities.
The image of Osun State must reflect the intellectual greatness and cultural sophistication for which the state has historically been known. The state deserves leadership capable of commanding respect nationally and internationally through sound reasoning, policy articulation and developmental achievements.
This election therefore offers Osun people a rare opportunity to make a historic decision. Citizens must look beyond temporary political excitement and carefully evaluate the competence, preparedness and administrative capability of those seeking leadership positions.
The future of Osun cannot be entrusted to trial-and-error governance. The state requires serious-minded leadership prepared to confront the complex economic and developmental realities of modern governance.
As campaigns gradually intensify, Osun people must remain vigilant and avoid distractions capable of undermining the collective future of the state. Political sentiments should never override competence and capacity.
The APC primaries have now set the stage for what may become one of the most consequential elections in the political history of Osun State. The party appears increasingly united, organized and strategically positioned for the electoral contest ahead.
The burden now rests on the people of Osun State to decide the direction they desire for their future. Will the state continue with governance heavily criticized for excessive populism and family dominance, or will it embrace a more structured, intellectually grounded and policy-driven administration?
History will ultimately judge the choices made in August 2026.
The people of Osun State must therefore prepare themselves for transformative leadership change. They must unite across religion, ethnicity and political differences to support a vision capable of restoring the glory, dignity and developmental aspirations of the state.
Osun deserves leadership founded on competence, intelligence, strategic thinking and accountability. The state deserves a governor capable of discussing budgets fluently, defending policies intelligently, articulating developmental ideas clearly and representing the people with dignity wherever he goes.
The time has come for the restoration of progressive governance in Osun State. The time has come to move beyond “Ijoba Idile Kan” and embrace institutional leadership founded on knowledge, experience and administrative seriousness.
As the countdown to August 15, 2026 continues, many believe that the winds of political change are already gathering momentum across Osun State.
And perhaps, history may remember the just concluded APC primaries as the beginning of that transformation.
Oni is a Professor in the Department of Educational Foundations, Faculty of Education, and University of Lagos, where he teaches, Sociology of Education, Philosophy of Education and social pedagogy in Education
