Omisore Silent On APC Disqualification Ahead Of Osun Governorship Primary

The immediate past National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Iyiola Omisore, has remained silent following his reported disqualification from the party’s December 13 governorship primary in Osun State.

The Eye Opener News had earlier reported that the APC Screening Committee, which concluded its work on December 4, 2025, at Amor Hotel in Katampe, Abuja, disqualified Omisore and six other aspirants.

Other disqualified aspirants include former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Benedict Alabi; ex-Senior Special Assistant to the President on Legislative Matters, Babajide Omoworare; Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Kunle Adegoke; businessman Dotun Babayemi; insurance expert Akin Ogunbiyi; and Babatunde Oralusi.

The committee, headed by Obinna Uzoh, cited failure to submit proof of sponsorship from at least five fully registered and financially current party members from each Local Government Area of the state, as required by Articles 9.3(i) and 31.2(ii) of the APC Constitution and Paragraph 6(c) of the party’s guidelines.

The committee’s report confirmed that only two aspirants, Mulikat Abiola Jimoh and Munirudeen Oyebamiji, were cleared to participate in the primary election.

The report detailed the rigorous process, which involved examining all documents, supporting materials, and conducting structured interviews to assess the aspirants’ knowledge of party rules, preparedness, and overall suitability for the role.

The committee also addressed a petition from the Osun APC Renewal Group, which called for the disqualification of two aspirants who failed to meet the mandatory nomination requirements outlined in the APC Constitution.

“Upon careful review, the Committee found the issues raised in the petition to be weighty, substantial, and relevant to the integrity of the screening process. In the interest of fairness, transparency, and uniform application of the Party’s rules, the Committee resolved that the concerns highlighted should not be applied selectively,” the report read.

The committee confirmed that both Jimoh and Oyebamiji met all constitutional and guideline requirements, including proper nomination by the requisite number of registered, financially up-to-date party members.

Omisore Remains Silent, Spokesperson Seeks Time To Comment

Despite being one of the leading aspirants in the state, Omisore has refused to comment on the disqualification. Jamiu Olawumi, a former special assistant to the governor on education and Omisore’s spokesperson since the commencement of his gubernatorial ambition, requested more time to address the issue.

“We are on top of it. It is being addressed. Give me time to react. Call me back,” he said when contacted by Punch

However, he neither answered calls nor replied to messages sent to his phone afterwards.

Another loyalist of the former deputy governor, who prayed not to be named, also declined to comment on the matter.

Meanwhile, two of the disqualified governorship aspirants, who spoke with Saturday Punch on condition of anonymity, criticised the party’s Screening Committee decision, describing it as an attempt to impose a candidate on them.

One of the aspirants said, “This is very interesting and weird. Who are the financial members? How did they emerge? When did they pay, into which party account, and how many are they across the state? When was a call made to members to come and pay? Where is the notice as sent out? Which account number did they pay into? Where was the final list of financial members as displayed in each ward? Can we even have the list of financial members and their individual proof of payment? In fact, this is a strange incense on the altar of progressive politics. It should rather be a rumour and die as that.”

Another aspirant’s aide described the committee’s decision as “bad politics” for the APC in the state. He accused a party leader of attempting to impose his preferred aspirant on the members.

He said, “A party in opposition cannot play this kind of politics without repercussions. Probably, this overconfidence and desperation are coming from the current misfortune of Governor Adeleke. If by tomorrow he resolves, are we still likely to go this divisive way? Have they forgotten Ogbeni Aregbesola? Hope the so-called financial party members have the number and votes enough to see them through the general election. Or will those disqualified candidates and their disqualified nominators be valid to vote eventually, and will they joyfully do so? This is blind and desperate politics; I am sure the party leaders in the state will address the issue and prevent any form of degeneration.”

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