The All Progressives Congress (APC) has disqualified Senator Iyiola Omisore and six other contestants from the Osun state governorship race.
The six other contestants, who were disqualified ahead of the party primary scheduled for December 13 are, Babatunde Haketer Oralusi, Mr. Oyedotun Babayemi, Dr. Akinade Akanmu Ogunbiyi, Benedict Olugboyega Alabi, Adegoke Rasheed Okiki Adekunle, and Sen. Babajide Omoworare, reports Daily Independent.
The two aspirants, who were cleared by the screening committee are; Mulikat Abiola Jimoh and Munirudeen Bola Oyebanji.
According to the committee, they satisfactorily met all constitutional and guideline requirements of the APC, including proper nomination by the requisite number of fully registered, financially up-to-date party members from each Local Government Area.
The party’s Screening Committee led by Chief Obinna Uzoh, while submitting its report to the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), on Friday at the party National Secretariat, in Abuja, explained reasons why the seven aspirants were disqualified.
Seven out of the nine aspirants who appeared for the screening exercise on Thursday, December 4, 2025, cited failure to meet the mandatory nomination requirements as reason, for disqualification of the seven aspirants.
The Committee Chairman, Uzoh also alleged that the affected aspirants, failed to provide evidence of sponsorship by at least five, registered, and financially up-to-date party members from each Local Government Area in Osun State, as required under Articles 9.3 (i) and 31.2 (ii) of the APC Constitution and Paragraph 6 (c) of the party’s guidelines.
“Only two aspirants were cleared to contest the primary election; Mulikat Abiola Jimoh and Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji,” he declared.
The committee said: “This decision followed a petition by the Osun APC Renewal Group alleging irregularities in the nomination process of some aspirants. Rather than apply the petition selectively, the panel extended the same strict scrutiny to all nine candidates, leading to the mass disqualification.
“The decision, however, is subject to ratification by the NWC,” which the Chairman said, “has sent shockwaves through the Osun APC, with sources close to the affected aspirants, describing the outcome as politically motivated,” vowing to challenge it.
Recall that Senator Iyiola Omisore, a heavyweight in Osun politics and former Deputy Governor, was widely seen as one of the frontrunners in the State Governorship race.
His disqualification, alongside other prominent figures like former Deputy Governor Benedict Alabi and ex-Senator Babajide Omoworare, effectively narrows the race dramatically.
According to party sources, an emergency meeting of the affected aspirants is already underway, with strong indications that appeals will be filed before the NWC.
The report by the screening committee said: “The Committee received a petition from Osun APC Renewal Group, urging the disqualification of the two aspirants who were identified as falling short of the mandatory nominator requirements prescribed under the APC Constitution and the Party’s Guidelines for the Governorship Primary.
“Upon careful review, the Committee found the issues raised in the petition to be weighty, substantial, and germane to the integrity of the screening process. In the interest of fairness, transparency, and uniform application of the Party’s rules, the Committee resolved that the concerns highlighted should not be applied selectively.
“Accordingly, the Committee extended the same scrutiny to all nine (9) aspirants, ensuring that every sponsor (nominator) of an aspirant was assessed on the basis of compliance with Articles 9.3(i) and 31.2(ii) of the APC Constitution and paragraph 6(c) of the Guidelines. This approach guaranteed a level playing field and upheld the principles of internal party democracy.”
Upon conclusion of the exercise, the Committee “found that two (2) aspirants, Mulikat Abiola Jimoh and Munirudeen Bola Oyebanji, satisfactorily met all constitutional and guideline requirements of the APC, including proper nomination by the requisite number of fully registered, financially up-to-date party members from each Local Government Area.
“The Committee observed that seven (7) aspirants: Sen. Iyiola Omisore, Babatunde Haketer Oralusi, Mr. Oyedotun Babayemi, Dr. Akinade Akanmu Ogunbiyi, Benedict Olugboyega Alabi, Adegoke Rasheed Okiki Adekunle, and Sen. Babajide Omoworare-failed to meet the mandatory nomination requirement of being sponsored by five (5) fully registered and financially up-to-date members from each Local Government Area contrary to Articles 9.3(i) of the APC Constitution and 31.2(ii) of the APC Constitution as well as Paragraph 6(c) of the APC Guidelines for the 2025 Governorship Primary.”
