The All Progressives Congress (APC) has disqualified former National Secretary of the party, Senator Iyiola Omisore, and six other governorship hopefuls from participating in its Osun State primary scheduled for December 13, following what it described as serious gaps and irregularities in their nomination documents.
The decision is contained in a comprehensive report of the APC Screening Committee, which was submitted to the National Working Committee (NWC) in Abuja on Friday, after concluding its sessions on December 4.
According to the committee, only two aspirants, Mulikat Abiola Jimoh and former Finance Commissioner, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, met the minimum constitutional and guideline requirements to run in the primary.
The committee, chaired by Chief Obinna Uzoh, found that Omisore and the other disqualified aspirants, 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 fully registered and financially up-to-date party members from each of Osun’s local government areas.
The requirement, the committee emphasised, is clearly outlined in Articles 9.3(i) and 31.2(ii) of the APC Constitution and in Paragraph 6(c) of the party’s guidelines for the 2025 governorship primary.
The screening exercise included a document verification stage, where all submitted forms and attachments were reviewed, and a structured interview session to assess knowledge of party rules, preparedness, and eligibility.
The committee also confirmed receiving a petition from a group known as the Osun APC Renewal Group, which demanded the disqualification of some aspirants over non-compliance with the nomination rules.
After examining the petition, the committee concluded that the issues raised were “weighty, substantial, and relevant to the integrity of the screening process” and must be applied across board to prevent selective justice.
It, therefore, upheld the petition in principle, but noted that only two aspirants, Jimoh and Oyebamiji, fully satisfied all requirements.
Beyond the screening outcome, the committee drew attention to what it described as “deep-seated divisions” within the APC structure in Osun State.
It advised the national leadership to urgently activate a reconciliation mechanism capable of uniting the various factions ahead of the party primary and the 2026 governorship election.
“To foster broad inclusion and minimise feelings of marginalisation,” the report recommended that political appointments, party offices, and campaign roles be evenly allocated across all zones and interest blocs in the state.
The committee added that unity within the party is essential for a credible primary and for strong performance in the forthcoming governorship election, which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled for August 8, 2026.
Expressing gratitude to the NWC for the confidence reposed in its members, the committee reaffirmed its commitment to fairness, transparency, and strict adherence to party rules, which it said are fundamental to the APC’s internal democratic processes.
