APC Will Accept Peoples Verdict In Osun – Ajibola Bashiru

The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Bashiru, says the party will accept defeat in Saturday’s Osun State governorship election if the poll is conducted freely and fairly.

Bashiru stated this on Monday during an interview on Beyond the Headlines with Abosede Adeniran Aderemi.

While expressing confidence that the APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, would win, he said the party would respect the outcome if voters chose another candidate through a credible process.

“If you’re a democrat, you must be able to savour victory as well as also endure defeat if the election is done free and fair.”

Bashiru said the APC would critically examine the result if its candidate lost, but would ultimately respect the will of the electorate.

“If indeed the will of the people is that our party did not win, of course we’ll move ahead and organise for another round of election.”

He also urged political parties and their supporters to ensure a peaceful election amid reports of violence during the build-up to the poll.

Bashiru described the APC as a party of peace and called on other political actors to allow voters to exercise their franchise without intimidation.

“Our party is a party of peace and we are committed to that,” he said.

He expressed confidence in the readiness of the police, saying security agencies had been taking preventive measures ahead of the election.

According to him, the Osun governorship election would serve as an important test for the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“This election on Saturday is a litmus test for INEC and even for the security agencies because they are all key stakeholders in elections ahead of next year’s general election,” Bashiru said.

He said Nigerians expected a process that was “free, fair, credible” and free from violence.

Bashiru also defended the APC’s political strength ahead of 2027, rejecting suggestions that the party was losing ground to opposition parties.

He said the APC had continued to attract political support from across the country and would sustain its mobilisation around President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

Despite his confidence in an APC victory, Bashiru maintained that the final decision belonged to the electorate.

He said the party would respect the outcome if the election reflected the genuine will of the people.