The All Progressives Congress (APC) has disqualified former National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, along with six other aspirants, from participating in the party’s upcoming governorship primary.
The report of the Screening Committee, chaired by Chief Obinna Uzoh, Esq., and concluded on December 4, 2025, at Amor Hotel, Katampe, Abuja, cited failure to meet the mandatory nomination requirements as the reason for the disqualification of the seven aspirants.
According to the committee, the affected aspirants — Sen. Iyiola Omisore, Babatunde Haketer Oralusi, Oyedotun Babayemi, Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi, Benedict Alabi, Adegoke Rasheed Okiki, and Senator Babajide Omoworare — did not provide evidence of sponsorship by at least five (5) fully registered and financially up-to-date party members from each Local Government Area in Osun State, as required under Articles 9.3(i) and 31.2(ii) of the APC Constitution and Paragraph 6(c) of the party’s guidelines.
Only two aspirants were cleared to contest the primary: Mulikat Abiola Jimoh, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji
The committee stated that its decision followed a petition by the Osun APC Renewal Group alleging irregularities in the nomination process of some aspirants.
Rather than apply the petition selectively, the panel extended the same strict scrutiny to all nine candidates, leading to the mass disqualification.
The decision, which is subject to ratification by the National Working Committee (NWC), has sent shockwaves through the Osun APC, with sources close to the affected aspirants describing the outcome as “politically motivated” and vowing to challenge it.
Sen. Iyiola Omisore, a heavyweight in Osun politics and former deputy governor, was widely seen as one of the frontrunners.
His disqualification, alongside other prominent figures like former Deputy Governor Benedict Alabi and ex-Senator Babajide Omoworare, effectively narrows the race dramatically.
Party sources say an emergency meeting of the affected aspirants is already underway, with strong indications that appeals will be filed before the NWC.
The Osun APC governorship primary is scheduled to hold soon, with the winner expected to challenge the incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke who has decamped from the PDP while shopping for a party leading to the 2026 governorship election.
(vitalnewsngr.com)
