𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗯𝗲𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗮’𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗢𝘀𝘂𝗻 𝗔𝗣𝗖 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗱.

As Osun State gears up for the pivotal 2026 governorship election, the political arena is abuzz with shifting alliances and revived ambitions. At the center of this new political storm stands Rauf Aregbesola, a seasoned leader whose re-emergence through the Omoluabi Progressives has stirred both enthusiasm and anxiety. While some see his movement as a threat to traditional power structures, others recognize it for what it truly is: a necessary correction to a broken system.

Aregbesola: The Legacy That Still Speaks

Aregbesola’s track record from 2010 to 2018 is more than nostalgia it is evidence of what determined governance can look like. From aggressive infrastructure development to educational reforms, his administration set a tone for modernization that current leaders still struggle to replicate. Critics point to debt, but supporters highlight roads, schools, and a new administrative ethos. Osun needs bold leadership again one that doesn’t just mark time but moves the state forward.

Why Osun APC Lost Its Way

The APC in Osun today is a shadow of its former self. Torn apart by infighting, entitlement politics, and godfatherism, it has become disconnected from the grassroots it once claimed to champion. The expulsion of Aregbesola and the alienation of his loyalists was not just a political miscalculation it was a moral failure. The party’s refusal to reconcile or reform shows it is more interested in power retention than public service.

Omoluabi Progressives: Not Just a Faction, but a Force

The Omoluabi Progressives aren’t just breakaways they are idealists with structure, strategy, and community roots. They represent a return to issue based politics in a state fatigued by empty slogans. If Osun is truly to move forward, it needs more than recycled candidates and tired party machinery. It needs visionaries with unfinished business and the courage to challenge a rigged status quo.

The Real Threat to Osun APC

The threat to the APC is not Aregbesola it is their refusal to evolve. While the PDP grapples with governance and the electorate demands change, the APC clings to the past without the very man who gave them their strongest years. By sidelining Aregbesola, they handed their legacy to someone else. And come 2026, that someone might just return with a vengeance and a mandate.

In Conclusion

Aregbesola’s political reawakening isn’t a spoiler move; it’s a democratic necessity. Osun deserves options beyond stale battles and party labels. If the APC cannot rebuild trust or reconnect with the people, it has no moral right to seek power. In 2026, Osun voters may very well look beyond broken promises and seek out leaders who have already proven they can deliver warts and all.