…clears only two aspirants
In a dramatic twist ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary in Osun State, the party has disqualified seven out of the nine aspirants screened for the contest including Iyiola Omisore, a former National Secretary of the party and two-term senator.
The decision was contained in the report of the APC Screening Committee chaired by Obinna Uzoh, which concluded its work on December 4, 2025, at Amor Hotel, Katampe, Abuja.
Read also: Meet the nine aspirants jostling for Osun APC ticket
According to the committee, the disqualified aspirants failed to meet the party’s mandatory nomination criteria, especially the requirement to present sponsorship by at least five fully registered and financially up-to-date party members from each Local Government Area in Osun State.
In a copy of the report seen by our correspondent on Friday, the committee said, “The issues raised were weighty, substantial, and germane to the integrity of the screening process.
“In the interest of fairness and transparency, the concerns could not be applied selectively.
“Every aspirant was subjected to the same scrutiny.”
Those disqualified include Sen. Iyiola Omisore, Babatunde Haketer Oralusi, Oyedotun Babayemi, Akin Ogunbiyi, former Deputy Governor Benedict Alabi, Adegoke Rasheed Okiki, and Babajide Omoworare.
Only two aspirants; Mulikat Abiola Jimoh and Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji were cleared to contest the primary.
Uzoh explained that the committee acted strictly in accordance with Articles 9.3(i) and 31.2(ii) of the APC Constitution and Paragraph 6(c) of the party’s guidelines.
“The rules of the party are binding on all members without exception,” he said.
“Where an aspirant falls short of such a fundamental requirement, the committee has no choice.”
He also confirmed that the decision followed a petition filed by the Osun APC Renewal Group, which accused some aspirants of not meeting the nominator requirement.
“Rather than apply the petition to just two individuals, we extended the same verification to all nine.
“That is the only way internal democracy can stand,” he added.
The Osun APC primary is expected to produce the party’s flagbearer ahead of the 2026 governorship election.
The winner will face incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke, who recently left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and is reportedly considering new political platforms for his re-election bid.
