No Free Kick in Osun: Accord Dismisses Oyebamiji’s “Penalty Without Goalkeeper” Boast

 Osogbo | January 12, 2026

The Osun State chapter of the Accord Party has strongly condemned recent comments credited to the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Mr Bola Oyebamiji, in which he reportedly likened the 2026 Osun governorship election to “a penalty kick without a goalkeeper.”

In a statement issued on Monday, the Accord described the remark as arrogant, reckless, and deeply insulting to the collective intelligence of Osun voters, warning that such utterances reflect a dangerous detachment from political reality.

According to the party, elections in Osun State are not ceremonial processes nor predetermined contests, but democratic exercises shaped by the will, memory, and judgment of the people.

“Such a statement is not a show of confidence,” the Accord said. “It is a loud confession of political arrogance and a disturbing illusion of entitlement.”

The party accused Mr Oyebamiji of operating under what it termed a “godfather-induced hallucination,” noting that power in a democracy is neither inherited nor transferred by political overlords.

The Accord recalled that the APC was decisively voted out of office in 2022 following widespread public dissatisfaction with its governance record, adding that Mr Oyebamiji, as Commissioner for Finance during that period, was not a passive observer.

“Osun people did not merely vote out the APC; they revolted against policies widely perceived as cruel, incompetent, and anti-people,” the statement read. “Mr Oyebamiji was a central figure in that administration. He was not a victim of its failures; he was a beneficiary of them.”

The party further argued that no serious democratic candidate, regardless of performance or popularity, would publicly describe an election as a walkover without undermining the essence of representative governance.

It listed unpaid entitlements, fiscal recklessness, and economic hardship as part of the legacy still associated with the APC era, insisting that these issues remain fresh in the minds of Osun residents.

The Accord also rejected any suggestion that Osun State could be treated as a political inheritance or conquered territory, stressing that electoral mandates must be earned through credibility, acceptance, and service to the people.

“The 2026 governorship election is not a penalty kick,” the party stated. “It is a referendum on the past and a choice about the future.”

Warning against complacency and overconfidence, the Accord said the Osun electorate would decisively resist what it described as entitlement politics and recycled leadership.

“There will be a goalkeeper on August 8, 2026,” the statement added. “In fact, there will be millions of them,  the people of Osun State, armed with their ballots.”

The party concluded by affirming its readiness for the election and urging all political actors to respect democratic values, the electorate, and the sanctity of the ballot.