By John Dike, Osogbo
Osun State ex-Deputy Governor and former National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Iyiola Omisore, has dismissed rumours suggesting that he has defected from the party, insisting that he remains a loyal member of the APC.
Speculation over his political future intensified following the recent defection of some of his loyalists, including his 2018 governorship running mate, Yemi Lawal, to the Accord Party, where they declared support for the re-election bid of Governor Ademola Adeleke.
The former APC National Secretary clarified his position on Tuesday after attending the statutory monthly meeting of the party’s elders’ caucus, Igbimo Agba Osun, held in Ilobu, the headquarters of Irepodun Local Government Area.
Speaking through the Director-General of the Senator Iyiola Omisore Campaign Group, Hon. Israel Famurewa, the former deputy governor described the reports of his defection as baseless social media speculation and urged members of the public to disregard them.
“I think seeing is believing. Senator Omisore is here at the meeting, and that is enough to debunk the rumour that he has left the party. We all know him; if he actually wanted to leave the party, he would address a formal press conference. What is flying all over social media is just a rumour,” Famurewa said.
He added, “Nobody can say Senator Iyiola Omisore sat down with him and said he had left the party. It is merely an insinuation. You can see him here today, and we are planning together on how to win the next election.
As far as I am concerned, Senator Iyiola Omisore is a bona fide member of the APC and a member of Igbimo Agba Osun.”
Famurewa also denied claims that Omisore was behind the defection of some of his supporters to the Accord Party, describing their actions as personal decisions.
“I am the Director-General of his campaign group. We all joined the party as individuals, not as a group. People are free to make their own political decisions. Some may have personal grievances, but Senator Omisore did not instruct anyone to leave the APC.
“If he wanted to issue any directive, it would come through me to members of the group. That is how we operate,” he said.
He called on eligible voters across the state to come out peacefully on election day and exercise their civic responsibility without fear of intimidation or harassment.
Earlier, the Chairman of APC Igbimo Agba Osun, Engr. Sola Akinkunmi, said the meeting was part of the elders’ statutory consultations aimed at strategising ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
“Omisore and other members of Igbimo Agba are here. As everyone knows, the governorship election is around the corner, and we need to meet regularly to fine-tune our strategies,” Akinkunmi said.
Expressing confidence in the APC’s chances, Akinkunmi urged Osun residents to vote massively for the party’s governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, expressing optimism that he would emerge victorious at the poll.
