The All Progressives Congress, APC, says internal disagreements and overconfidence contributed to its defeat in the 2026 Osun governorship election, describing the outcome as a warning for the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

APC chieftain Farouk Aliyu made the assessment in an interview, saying disagreements over the party’s candidate affected the campaign and prevented some members from giving the contest their full support. He said the party must ensure future candidates enjoy wider acceptance within its ranks.

Aliyu also identified complacency as another factor, saying some APC members believed federal influence would guarantee victory. According to him, the party consequently failed to do enough in some areas because it underestimated Governor Ademola Adeleke and the strength of his political movement.

The party chieftain declined to name individuals he considered responsible for the loss, maintaining that such issues should be addressed internally. He also criticised comments attributed to APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, during the campaign, which he said contributed to the party’s difficulties.

Adeleke, who contested under the Accord Party according to the figures provided, secured 511,677 votes to win a second term. The result has since triggered calls within and outside the APC for a reassessment of its strategy, candidate selection process and internal coordination before the next general election.

Aliyu, however, commended President Bola Tinubu for not deploying federal influence to alter the outcome and praised the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for uploading results through its IReV platform. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo and Afenifere were among those who congratulated Adeleke, while urging continued good governance and stronger electoral institutions.

For the APC, the Osun result now presents an opportunity to address the divisions exposed by the campaign before 2027. The party’s own assessment suggests that political organisation, internal cohesion, voter engagement and confidence in candidates may matter as much as federal influence in determining electoral outcomes.