The Osun State Chapter of the Accord Party has observed with concern and a measure of disbelief the recent comments credited to the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, in which he described the 2026 Osun governorship election as a “penalty kick without a goalkeeper.”
Such a remark reflects not political confidence, but a profound disconnect from the realities on ground. It underscores a troubling mindset shaped by entitlement and sustained by the illusion that political power is transferable through patronage rather than earned through public trust.
Mr. Oyebamiji would do well to reassess his assumptions. Political authority in Osun is neither hereditary nor bestowed by any individual, particularly not by a political godfather whose administration was overwhelmingly rejected by the electorate and voted out of office in 2022. The Osun people have already demonstrated that no individual or party enjoys automatic legitimacy.
It must be clearly emphasized that the 2022 election outcome was not accidental. Osun voters consciously rejected the APC administration due to widespread dissatisfaction with governance outcomes, policies, and economic management. Mr. Oyebamiji, as Commissioner for Finance at the time, was not a bystander. He was an integral part of that administration and cannot distance himself from its record.
The suggestion that the 2026 election will be a mere formality is an affront to democratic values and an underestimation of the political maturity of Osun voters. Elections are competitive processes, not ceremonial endorsements. Any candidate who assumes otherwise reveals a mindset incompatible with democratic leadership.
Even an incumbent with demonstrable achievements would exercise caution and humility in addressing the electorate. It is therefore particularly surprising for a candidate burdened with unresolved public grievances—ranging from unpaid entitlements to fiscal decisions that contributed to economic hardship to project inevitability.
Osun State is not a conquered territory. Political offices are not appointments made behind closed doors, nor are they inheritances passed from one political benefactor to another. They are mandates freely given by the people through the ballot.
The 2026 governorship election will be a referendum on credibility, performance, and public confidence. Mr. Oyebamiji enters this contest facing significant political headwinds and widespread public skepticism. No amount of rhetoric, borrowed confidence, or political bravado can substitute for genuine acceptance by the people.
Osun citizens are alert, engaged, and prepared to exercise their democratic rights. The ballot stands ready and contrary to Mr. Oyebamiji’s assumption, there will indeed be goalkeepers: millions of vigilant voters determined to defend their mandate.
Signed:
Pastor Victor Babalola Akande
Osun State Accord Chairman
12 January 2026
