By Tobi Lazarus Abuah
The 2026 Osun governorship election is steadily taking shape, and one reality is becoming increasingly clear within political circles: while competence, party structure and funding matter, strategic balance will ultimately decide the contest. As the All Progressives Congress (APC) consolidates around its flag bearer, Hon. Bola Oyebamiji, attention is now shifting to the most consequential decision that will define the ticket — the choice of a deputy governor. In that equation, Ile-Ifẹ̀ stands out as a strategic fulcrum no serious contender can afford to ignore.
Hon. Bola Oyebamiji enters the race with clear advantages. As a former commissioner with deep administrative exposure and a reputation for technocratic discipline, he projects stability at a time Osun voters are increasingly weary of theatrics and short-term populism. Across the state, APC structures remain intact, energized, and quietly confident that the political tide is turning. Yet, history and electoral arithmetic both teach a hard lesson: no Osun governorship victory is complete without a carefully engineered regional and cultural balance.
This is where Ile-Ifẹ̀ comes in — not as sentiment, but as strategy.
Ile-Ifẹ̀ is not merely another senatorial bloc or local government cluster. It is a political nerve centre, a cultural capital, and one of the most electorally influential zones in Osun State. With its dense population, historically high voter turnout, and influence that radiates into adjoining local governments, Ifẹ̀ has repeatedly proven capable of tilting outcomes far beyond its borders. Any ticket that secures genuine Ifẹ̀ buy-in does not just win votes; it gains momentum.
Beyond numbers, Ile-Ifẹ̀ carries symbolic weight. As the spiritual cradle of the Yoruba people, political exclusion of Ifẹ̀ often generates quiet resentment that later manifests at the ballot box. Conversely, meaningful inclusion — particularly through the deputy governorship slot — sends a powerful signal of respect, equity and political maturity. It reassures traditional institutions, mobilises youth and professional networks, and neutralises long-standing narratives of marginalisation.
The argument, therefore, is not that Oyebamiji needs Ile-Ifẹ̀ to survive politically, but that Ile-Ifẹ̀ significantly simplifies the path to victory. In a competitive election where margins will matter, the deputy governorship pick becomes the bridge between a strong candidacy and a winning coalition.
An Ile-Ifẹ̀ deputy governor does more than balance geography. It strengthens campaign logistics, deepens grassroots penetration, and enhances message credibility in the southern axis of the state. It also opens channels to influential academic, student, market and artisan communities whose political participation often determines turnout rather than mere voter registration.
Crucially, this is not a call for tokenism. The effectiveness of an Ile-Ifẹ̀ pick will depend entirely on who emerges. The moment demands a figure with authentic local legitimacy, clean public standing, organisational capacity, and the ability to defend the ticket in both policy debates and street-level mobilisation. Anything less would reduce a strategic advantage to a missed opportunity.
Within this context, the “Bomode O Ku Independent Campaign Group” has struck a resonant chord by articulating what many within APC already acknowledge privately: the Oyebamiji project becomes electorally formidable when it is anchored on inclusive political wisdom. Their advocacy reflects a growing consensus that Osun 2026 will be won not by noise, but by intelligent ticket construction.
As the countdown to the polls continues, APC faces a defining choice. The party can either approach the deputy governorship as a routine concession, or elevate it into a strategic instrument for statewide consolidation. All indicators suggest that placing Ile-Ifẹ̀ at the heart of that decision is not only logical — it is politically sound.
In elections, timing is everything. In strategy, balance is everything. And in Osun 2026, Ile-Ifẹ̀ may well be the difference between a strong campaign and a decisive victory.
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