Former National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has strongly criticized his disqualification from the party’s Osun State governorship primary, labeling the screening committee’s decision as “the jokiest report of the year” and raising serious questions about the integrity of the selection process.
Omisore, speaking on behalf of disqualified aspirants after meeting with the APC Screening Appeal Panel in Abuja on Saturday, accused the screening committee of procedural irregularities and alleged interference by former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, now serving as Minister of Marine Economy, to favor candidate Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji.
The APC Screening Committee had barred Omisore and six other aspirants from participating in the governorship primary scheduled for December 13. Those disqualified alongside Omisore include Babatunde Oralusi, Oyedotun Babayemi, Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi, Benedict Alabi, Adegoke Rasheed Okiki, and Senator Babajide Omoworare. Only Mulikat Abiola Jimoh and Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji received clearance to contest.
According to the screening committee, the disqualified aspirants failed to provide evidence of sponsorship from at least five fully registered and financially current party members in each local government area of the state. The committee cited Articles 9.3(i) and 31.2(ii) of the APC Constitution, along with Paragraph 6(c) of party guidelines, as the basis for its decision.
Omisore rejected these grounds outright, asserting that none of the disqualified aspirants had received formal notification of any specific violations. He claimed the panel produced multiple reports, with the version submitted to the party secretariat differing from the original document. The veteran politician emphasized that no aspirant had been shown the report or provided clear reasons for their disqualification.
Challenging the committee’s methodology, Omisore questioned how the panel determined that aspirants lacked the required number of nominators when party leadership maintains full access to the membership register. He argued that the burden of proof rests with those making allegations, suggesting the committee should have employed alternative verification methods if concerns existed about nominator credentials.
The former senator expressed frustration at what he perceives as partisan maneuvering beyond acceptable political boundaries. He highlighted the credentials of those disqualified, describing them as veterans with established pedigrees within the party, and questioned where such experienced politicians should turn when excluded from internal processes.
Omisore pointed out that all aspirants allegedly face disqualification for identical reasons under the same system, which he believes warrants careful examination rather than blanket rejection. He noted that the party possesses a register of over 13,000 members who are financial contributors, information that should have been accessible during the screening process.
Despite his criticism, Omisore expressed optimism that the National Working Committee would review the decision and potentially reverse it upon closer examination. He suggested the controversy reflects deeper factionalism within the Osun APC, with competing interests influencing what should be a transparent and fair selection process.
The disqualification controversy adds another layer of complexity to Osun State’s already turbulent political environment. The state has recently witnessed disputes over Supreme Court judgments regarding local government allocations and allegations of political violence between APC and the governing Peoples Democratic Party.
The screening appeal process now becomes critical for the disqualified aspirants, who must convince the appeal panel that procedural errors or bias tainted the initial screening. With the primary scheduled for December 13, time is limited for resolving these disputes before the party selects its candidate for the governorship election.
