A coalition of youth and women’s groups in Osogbo, Osun State, has called on the All Progressives Congress (APC) to prioritise aspirants from the capital city in its ongoing screening process for the 2026 governorship ticket.
The position was presented at a press briefing held on Tuesday, November 25, at Osogbo City Hall, Olonkoro, where Abdulrahman Okunade, spoke on behalf of the Coalition of Osogbo Youth and Women’s Groups.
The groups said Osogbo’s electoral strength and long-standing exclusion from top state leadership positions make the demand necessary.
They said selecting an Osogbo-born aspirant would enhance the APC’s chances in the election and address historical political imbalance.
The coalition stated that Osogbo deserves consideration for the governorship ticket based on its political relevance rather than sentiment.
Citing recent data from the Independent National Electoral Commission, the groups noted that Osogbo and neighbouring Olorunda Local Government Areas have a combined voter strength of about 300,000, representing roughly 15 per cent of the state’s 1,954,800 registered voters, with 360,794 Permanent Voter Cards yet to be collected.
The coalition said this makes Osogbo the most electorally influential single town in the state, with a dependable voting population often decisive in tight elections.
The groups also explained their reason for directing the appeal specifically at the APC. According to them, the African Democratic Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party have aligned their governorship tickets with the West Senatorial District, leaving only the APC still reviewing its aspirants.
With APC National Secretary and Osogbo indigene, Senator Ajibola Basiru, having withdrawn from the race, the coalition identified the two remaining Osogbo aspirants: Kunle Rasheed Adegoke (K-RAD), a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and long-time party member who previously contested in 2018, and Professor Rafiu Durodoye, a U.S.-based mathematics scholar.
The groups said both aspirants enjoy acceptance among traditional rulers, youth groups, business circles and civic bodies in Osogbo.
They added that grassroots structures, youth networks and community mobilisation platforms in Osogbo are ready to actively support the party if an indigene emerges as the candidate.
The group urged the APC screening committee to interact directly with the aspirants and give fair consideration to Osogbo’s electoral commitment.
The statement was jointly issued by eight organisations: Osogbo Affairs Forum, Osogbo Progressive Youth Movement, Osogbo National Students Union, Ààrè Ò Pétà, Osogbo Peace and Unity Advocacy, Osogbo Indigenous Sisters Association, The Great Osogbo Daughters and the Osogbo Development Action Group.
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