Seven aspirants, including former National Secretary and ex-Senator Iyiola Omisore, have been disqualified by the All Progressives Congress (APC) from its upcoming 2026 Osun State governorship primary.
The screening committee, headed by Chief Obinna Uzoh, concluded its exercise on December 4, 2025, and subsequently submitted its report to the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
According to the report, the disqualified candidates were unable to satisfy a crucial nomination requirement: securing sponsorship from a minimum of five fully registered and financially current APC members in every Local Government Area of Osun.
The aspirants barred alongside Omisore include Babatunde Haketer Oralusi, Oyedotun Babayemi, Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi, MD/CEO of Mutual Benefits Assurance Company Ltd, former deputy governor Benedict Alabi, Adegoke Rasheed Okiki, and Senator Babajide Omoworare, ex-Presidential Adviser on National Assembly to the late President Muhammadu Buhari.
Persecondnews reports that only two aspirants – Mulikat Abiola Jimoh and Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji – were cleared to contest the December 13 primary after satisfying the party’s criteria.
The screening committee said its decision was guided by Articles 9.3(i) and 31.2(ii) of the APC Constitution, along with paragraph 6(c) of the party’s primary election guidelines.
The ruling has stirred controversy within the party with some allies of Omisore and the other disqualified aspirants describing the decision as politically motivated, signalling possible legal challenges or appeals within the party’s dispute resolution framework.
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