The Senator representing Osun West, Lere Oyewumi, has criticised the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, describing its members as “terrible people” and “politically babies” whom he accused of lacking the experience to navigate the state’s political terrain.
Oyewumi, who spoke on Wednesday during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, assessed the aftermath of the August 15 Osun governorship election and the political realignment ahead of the 2027 general election.
The senator alleged that the actions of some APC leaders before the election created a situation in which Osun appeared to have two competing centres of authority, particularly in relation to directives involving the state government and security agencies.
According to him, some political actors were allegedly using President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s name and their relationship with him to influence security decisions in the state. He said this created confusion within the electoral environment.
Oyewumi said the Adeleke administration deliberately avoided confrontation despite what he described as attempts to create tension ahead of the election. He explained that the administration instead focused on mobilising voters and reminding them that the power to determine the outcome belonged to the electorate.
The senator said the election result showed that attempts at intimidation and political pressure failed to influence Osun voters, whom he described as politically mature and capable of making independent decisions at the polls.
Oyewumi was particularly critical of the APC leadership in the state, saying its structure was different from those of the party in other parts of the country. He also argued that the party had lost experienced politicians who previously contributed to its strategic direction.
He accused the Osun APC leadership of relying excessively on President Tinubu’s name instead of developing its own political strategy and engaging voters. According to him, the people of Osun had demonstrated that they could not be easily influenced through such tactics.
The senator further suggested that the Presidency was becoming aware of the activities of political actors who, according to him, had previously used their access to the President to create confusion in Osun. He said this was responsible for what he described as a separate political direction being taken by the President.
Oyewumi maintained that support for Tinubu’s 2027 re-election was not limited to the APC, noting that politicians from other political parties were also supporting the President. He cited FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo and Abia State Governor Alex Otti as examples.
He said the President’s campaign structure would accommodate different political groups and organisations working towards the same objective, adding that such groups would not necessarily need to abandon their existing political identities.
Oyewumi said the Osun election had also demonstrated the importance of respecting voters and avoiding political tactics capable of undermining confidence in the democratic process. He urged political parties to focus on convincing citizens through performance, policies and effective mobilisation rather than intimidation.
The senator said attention should now shift from the governorship election to governance and the 2027 presidential election, where he expects different political groups to work together in support of Tinubu.
