Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele has urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the Osun election, Bola Oyebamiji to congratulate Governor Ademola Adeleke on his re-election.

Bamidele also called on the APC to review its campaign strategy and use lessons from the Osun election to mobilise at least 10 million votes for President Bola Tinubu in the South-West during the 2027 presidential election.

In a statement issued on Monday, Bamidele, who is also Chairman of the National Assembly South-West Caucus, said the outcome of the election demonstrated that political power ultimately belongs to the electorate.

Adeleke, the Accord Party candidate, secured 511,067 votes to defeat Oyebamiji of the APC, who polled 444,815 votes. Najeem Salam of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) came third with 17,180 votes.

Bamidele urged all candidates to accept the outcome and called on Adeleke to extend a hand of fellowship to other political parties in the interest of Osun State.

He said Adeleke’s victory placed a responsibility on him to reunite residents across political divides and form an inclusive administration.

The Senate Leader also appealed to Oyebamiji to congratulate Adeleke and share policy ideas that could contribute to better governance in the state.

Bamidele said the APC’s defeat should not necessarily be viewed as a loss, noting Adeleke’s previous association with the party and his support for President Tinubu.

APC Targets 10 Million South-West Votes

Bamidele said the Osun election provided important lessons that the APC could use to strengthen its strategy ahead of the 2027 elections.

He noted that the 51.57 per cent voter turnout recorded in Osun suggested that the party could work towards achieving at least 60 per cent voter turnout across the South-West in 2027.

According to him, strategic collaboration among political actors could also help the APC achieve its target of mobilising 10 million votes for Tinubu’s re-election from the South-West.

He called for broader engagement with artisans, traders, farmers, entrepreneurs, youths, women, labour unions, civil society organisations, traditional rulers and other stakeholders as the party prepares for the 2027 elections.