By John Dike, Osogbo
Senator Iyiola Omisore, former National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Osun State governorship aspirant, has described his disqualification from the party’s primary as the “biggest joke of the year.”
Speaking to journalists after appearing before the APC Appeal Committee in Abuja on Saturday, he alleged that the screening process was rigged, marked by partisanship, fabricated reports, and pressure to favor a “preferred candidate.”
He vowed that he, along with six other disqualified aspirants, would challenge the decision to seek reinstatement.
Omisore also warned that the controversy exposes deep factionalism that could weaken the party against incumbent PDP Governor Ademola Adeleke in the 2026 election.
The APC Screening Committee, chaired by Chief Obinna Uzoh, had idisqualified Omisore alongside Benedict Olugboyega Alabi (former deputy governor), Dotun Babayemi, Akin Ogunbiyi, Senator Babajide Omoworare, Kunle Adegoke, SAN, and Babatunde Haketer Oralusi.
The committee had cited a failure to submit proof of nomination by at least five fully registered and dues-paying party members from each of the state’s 30 local government areas, as required by the APC Constitution and 2025 primary guidelines.
Two aspirants, Mulikat Abiola Jimoh and Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, were cleared to proceed to the December 13 primary.
Omisore dismissed the committee’s report as “baseless and procedurally flawed,” claiming that multiple versions were drafted and a doctored version submitted to the National Secretariat. He added that none of the disqualified aspirants had seen the report or received formal reasons for their disqualification.
He also disclosed that the screening panel chairman admitted to succumbing to external pressures aimed at sidelining major contenders. “Unfortunately, we are all victims of this,” Omisore said.
Refuting the nomination shortfall allegation, he argued that the party has access to its membership database for verification. “He who alleges must prove,” he insisted.
Omisore’s fallout with the Osun APC reflects longstanding internal tensions between supporters of Governor Gboyega Oyetola and rivals like Omisore, who had previously backed Oyetola’s 2018 victory but later clashed with him over influence. The screening report itself acknowledged that factionalism could jeopardize the party’s electoral prospects.
All seven disqualified aspirants are scheduled for individual hearings before the Appeal Committee, chaired by Senator Tola Odebiyi.
Omisore is calling for “fairness and transparency” in the process.
With the primary just a week away, the party faces mounting pressures to resolve the dispute swiftly.
