The All Progressives Congress (APC) has disqualified seven of the nine aspirants seeking its governorship ticket in Osun State, including former National Secretary and two-term Senator, Iyiola Omisore.
The decision followed the submission of the report of the APC Screening Committee, chaired by Obinna Uzoh, which concluded its assignment on December 4, 2025, at Amor Hotel, Katampe, Abuja.
According to the committee, the disqualified aspirants failed to meet the minimum nomination requirements of the party—particularly the mandatory presentation of sponsorship from at least five fully registered and financially up-to-date party members from each Local Government Area in Osun State.
In its report released on Friday, the Screening Committee described the issues raised during the exercise as “weighty, substantial, and germane to the integrity of the screening process,” insisting that the standards could not be selectively applied.
“Every aspirant was subjected to the same scrutiny,” the panel stated.
Those disqualified are 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 said the committee’s actions aligned strictly with Articles 9.3(i) and 31.2(ii) of the APC Constitution, as well as 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 confirmed that the screening outcome also considered a petition filed by the Osun APC Renewal Group, which raised concerns over the eligibility of some aspirants.
“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 governorship primary will determine the party’s flag bearer for the 2026 election, where the winner is expected to face incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke, who recently exited the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and is reportedly weighing new political platforms ahead of his re-election bid.
