Senator Shehu Sani has said the division within the opposition camp ahead of Saturday’s Osun State governorship election could give the All Progressives Congress an advantage over the incumbent Peoples Democratic Party administration.
Sani, a former senator representing Kaduna Central, stated this in a post on his X account while assessing the political situation in the state ahead of the poll.
According to him, the opposition’s inability to unite, coupled with what he described as the strong APC background of many members of the African Democratic Congress in Osun, could make it difficult for the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke, to retain power.
Sani wrote, “Osun; with a divided opposition and the fact that almost all of the ADC members in the state are genetically and spiritually from the APC, only a miracle or magic will save the incumbent Governor.”
He added, “In the absence of both miracle and magic, Hope Uzodinma will undoubtedly retrieve Osun for APC.”
Sani’s assessment comes against the backdrop of efforts by opposition parties to build a common front against the ruling APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
However, unlike previous election cycles where opposition parties often maintained clearer alignments against the ruling party, the political landscape in Osun appears more fragmented, with parties and political actors pursuing separate interests.
Although some opposition parties have expressed reservations about the APC and its candidate, there has been no broad-based declaration by the major opposition parties withdrawing their candidates and formally backing the Accord Party candidate, except for one party that announced such a decision on Saturday.
The development has further complicated efforts to consolidate the anti-APC vote in the state, raising concerns about the possibility of opposition votes being divided among several candidates.
Sani’s argument is that such fragmentation could ultimately benefit the APC, particularly in a closely contested election where a relatively small difference in votes could determine the winner.
His reference to the APC roots of members of the ADC also points to the fluid nature of political alignments in Osun, where politicians have moved between major political platforms ahead of the election.
The APC is seeking to reclaim Osun after losing the state to the PDP in the 2022 governorship election, while Adeleke is seeking another term in office.
The contest has therefore assumed significance beyond the state, with the outcome expected to provide an indication of the strength of the major political parties and emerging opposition platforms ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Sani’s prediction, however, remains a political assessment rather than a certainty, as the final outcome will depend on voter turnout, the strength of party structures, mobilisation, candidate appeal and the distribution of votes among the participating parties.
With the election scheduled for Saturday, the ability of opposition parties to consolidate their support or continue to divide the anti-APC vote could prove decisive in determining whether the PDP retains Osun or the APC succeeds in reclaiming the state.
