Senator Ojudu Babafemi has explained why the candidate backed by former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola failed to make a significant impact in the governorship election held on Saturday, August 16, 2026. According to Babafemi, the campaign effectively placed Aregbesola at the centre of the contest, even though he was not on the ballot.
Campaign Focus on Aregbesola's Record
Babafemi noted that Aregbesola's decision to back a candidate opened that candidate to attacks from multiple sides. The Accord Party exploited Aregbesola's history of paying senior civil servants half their salaries during his time as governor. The opposition used the nickname "Baba Hafusa," a mocking play on "half salary," to chip away at his legacy and undercut his candidate's standing with voters.
The Accord Party's campaign deliberately ignored Aregbesola's infrastructure and human capital achievements, focusing instead on that single grievance, Babafemi wrote on his Facebook page on Monday, August 17, 2026.
Strategic Voting by ADC Supporters
Babafemi highlighted the sophistication of Osun voters as a significant factor in the outcome. A considerable number of ADC members independently concluded that defeating the APC—which they regarded as the greater threat—was more important than voting for their own party, which had little chance of defeating either of the two leading contenders.
"They simply did not want the APC to win. Many appeared determined to bring the political career of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola and his acolytes to an end. This explains why many ADC supporters joined in celebrating the APC’s defeat after Ademola Adeleke emerged victorious," Babafemi said.
He added: "They therefore suspended their immediate partisan interests and voted for the Accord Party, believing that a vote for the ADC might indirectly improve the APC’s chances. It was strategic voting: they chose the candidate they believed was best positioned to achieve their overriding objective."
Wider Political Implications
Beyond Osun, Babafemi noted that a strong showing by Aregbesola's candidate would have carried wider political meaning, potentially signalling weakness in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's grip on Yoruba states and across Nigeria. He said considerable resources were therefore committed to stopping Aregbesola and his candidate from performing well, describing the former governor as "the first political enemy to be contained" in the contest.
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Senator Ojudu published a list of 15 factors he said worked against the APC in the Osun governorship election. Ojudu named frozen state accounts, hunger, and Edo governor's remarks among the forces that boosted Adeleke's support. The post drew wide reactions, with commenters praising Adeleke's resilience and criticising Oyetola's role in the loss.
