Grace Adeleye
Concerns over the fading reward culture within the All Progressives Congress (APC) have resurfaced, as party stakeholders and commentators call for an urgent reform ahead of the 2026 Osun governorship election.
Former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, recently decried the party’s dwindling voter strength, questioning whether its policies and internal culture still resonate with its loyal base.
His comments, though national in tone, struck a chord with Osun APC members who have long accused the party of sidelining those who laboured for its success.
Echoing this sentiment, former Osun SUBEB Chairman, Ajibola Famurewa, lamented what he called the “collapse of the reward system” within the party.
He urged the Osun APC to “return to the drawing board” if it intends to reclaim power in the August 8, 2026 governorship election, warning that “you cannot continue to neglect loyalty and expect a different result.”
Observers believe that the issue goes beyond rhetoric — it touches the soul of the party’s internal cohesion. According to them, the next governorship candidate must symbolize the values of loyalty, sacrifice, and integrity, which the party once celebrated.
Among the leading aspirants, analysts say Barr. Kunle Rasheed Adegoke (KRAD), SAN, embodies these principles more than most. A founding member of the APC in Osun, KRAD’s association with the party spans over two decades, defined by service rather than self-interest.
As the party’s long-time legal representative, he has handled over 100 cases, many pro bono, and led more than 15 legal battles on behalf of the state’s local government administrations. Yet, those close to him describe his quiet loyalty as his strongest credential.
After the controversial 2018 governorship primaries, KRAD challenged the outcome in court but later withdrew the case at the appeal stage following interventions by party elders. Instead of defecting, he reconciled with his opponent and worked for the party’s success — a gesture many see as proof of his maturity and commitment.
Even when his nominee for the Osun Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) position was frustrated during President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, KRAD remained loyal, refusing to join defectors who felt alienated by internal politics.
Party insiders say this resilience and discipline make him a symbol of what the APC needs to restore trust among its faithful.
“KRAD represents the kind of tested loyalty and sacrifice the APC must now reward,” a senior party member in Osun told PLATFORM TIMES on condition of anonymity. “The party cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of rewarding entitlement over effort.”
Critics, however, argue that other aspirants — such as Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO) and Senator Iyiola Omisore — already enjoyed substantial political rewards and may not reflect the party’s intended message of renewal.
Omisore, who played a decisive role in the 2018 election that produced former Governor Gboyega Oyetola, has since served as National Secretary of the APC, while Oyebamiji has held high-profile roles, including Commissioner for Finance and Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).
As the 2026 election draws closer, the Osun APC appears to stand at a crossroads. Whether it chooses to reinforce the old order or rebuild trust by rewarding integrity may determine its future relevance in the state’s politics.
For many within and outside the party, the path forward seems clear: a revival of the reward system — and, perhaps, a ticket that honours years of loyalty and sacrifice.
“This is the moment to rebuild trust.
This is the moment to reward sacrifice.
This is the moment to choose KRAD,”
said Omisade, the article’s contributor and a student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife.
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