People, Not Governors, Win Elections – Aregbesola

Rauf Aregbesola, former Osun State Governor and current National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), delivered a pointed message to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) during the public launch of “The Loyalist,” the memoir by ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi in Abuja on January 27, 2026. He stressed that true electoral success comes from voters, not from political heavyweights like governors.​

Aregbesola drew directly from the 2023 presidential election results to dismantle the myth of governor-driven victories. Despite APC’s Bola Tinubu being declared the winner with 8,794,726 votes nationwide, he lost his home base in Lagos—failing to carry his ward, local government area, or even the state itself.

Southwest Lessons

In the Southwest, APC controlled five out of six states (all except Oyo), yet Tinubu’s vote share topped out below 55 percent. Opposition parties like PDP and Labour Party (LP) captured the balance, as seen in Osun where PDP edged APC (354,366 vs. 343,945 votes) and in Lagos where local losses highlighted voter independence.

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Southeast Reality

The Southeast exposed even starker realities for APC, which garnered only about 5.8 percent of votes across the region despite efforts to consolidate power. LP dominated states like Abia (327,095 votes vs. APC’s 8,914), proving regional control by incumbents means little without public buy-in.

Path Forward

Aregbesola urged election authorities to prioritize transparency for upcoming polls, especially 2027, amid concerns over PDP defections to APC signaling one-party risks. “Commit to a free and fair process, and let the people’s will prevail,” he declared, echoing lessons from 2023 where turnout and voter choice outshone elite maneuvers.