The candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the forthcoming Osun State governorship election, Bola Oyebamiji, has called for greater commitment from youths in the party ahead of the poll.
Oyebamiji, who described the August 8 governorship election as a penalty kick awarded in favour of the APC against a team without a goalkeeper, said youths in the state would play a decisive role in determining the winner of the election.
He spoke in Osogbo on Sunday at an interactive session organised by the office of the Osun APC Youth Leader with the party’s governorship candidate.
Speaking against the backdrop of the party’s performance in the 2022 governorship election, Oyebamiji said a demographic analysis of voting patterns showed that youths accounted for about 210,000 of the over 300,000 votes recorded by the APC.
“We conducted a demographic analysis of the 2022 election results and discovered that APC polled over 300,000 votes, with youths contributing about 210,000 of the total.
“I have great respect for the vast youth population in the state. We have a lot in stock for them, and by the grace of God, there will be well-designed programmes for our youths. This will start now, not when we get into office.
“In the coming election, God has given us a penalty, and they have a goalpost without a goalkeeper. All we need to do is work hard and coordinate ourselves properly to earn the victory waiting for us,” Oyebamiji said in Yoruba language.
Ahead of the poll, he charged youths in the party to return to their wards and begin house-to-house and door-to-door mobilisation.
“I don’t have a competitor. APC does not have a competitor. We are going to give you resources to work with. We are serious about this assignment. By the grace of God, we are taking over.
“Do not be afraid. Nobody will harm you. I want to give you that assurance. This election will not be like the previous one.
“We will be responsible to you, but you must deliver. Our administration will be a government of youths. We will make the necessary arrangements to ensure that you get your dues,” he said.
Earlier, the Osun APC Youth Leader, Goke Akinwemimo, appealed to party members, especially youths who supported various aspirants during the governorship primaries, to redirect their energy towards ensuring victory for the APC at the main election.
Akinwemimo said, “Therefore, we must remain united, focused, and even more resilient than ever. This struggle concerns all of us; it is about our future, our destiny, and the prosperity of Osun State. The opportunity before us is clear, and we must not miss it.
“Conflict is an inevitable part of political development, but our ability to manage it effectively will determine our success.”
Osun State is scheduled to hold its next governorship election on August 8, 2026, with the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke, seeking re-election.
While Oyebamiji has emerged as the main challenger on the platform of the APC, a former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Najeem Salaam, who is the candidate of the African Democratic Congress, is also expected to be a strong contender in the race
