The All Progressives Congress (APC) screening committee has disqualified former National Secretary Iyiola Omisore and six other aspirants from contesting the Osun State governorship primary scheduled for December 13.
The decision followed the identification of gaps and irregularities in their nomination documents. The committee, chaired by Chief Obinna Uzoh, called on all party stakeholders to reconcile differences and promote unity ahead of the primary.
In its Friday report, the committee stated that the disqualified aspirants failed to meet the required nomination standards. While not all names were initially disclosed, Omisore’s disqualification has been confirmed. The other barred aspirants include Babatunde Haketer Oralusi, Oyedotun Babayemi, Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi, Benedict Alabi, Adegoke Rasheed Okiki, and Senator Babajide Omoworare.
The screening revealed that these aspirants did not submit proof of sponsorship from at least five fully registered and financially up-to-date party members from each Local Government Area, as required by Articles 9.3(i) and 31.2(ii) of the APC Constitution and Paragraph 6(c) of the party’s guidelines.
Only Mulikat Abiola Jimoh and Munirudeen Bola Oyebanji were cleared to participate in the primary.
The committee explained its process in the report:
- Document Examination: All forms, declarations, and supporting materials were reviewed to verify authenticity and compliance with statutory and party requirements.
- Structured Interviews: Each aspirant underwent an interview assessing knowledge of party rules, preparedness, adherence to nomination requirements, and overall suitability.
The committee also considered a petition from the Osun APC Renewal Group urging the disqualification of aspirants who failed to meet nomination requirements. After review, the committee ruled that the concerns were substantial and relevant to ensuring a fair and transparent screening.
Noting ongoing divisions within Osun APC, the committee recommended that the national leadership establish a reconciliation mechanism to unify party factions. It further advised equitable distribution of party offices, campaign roles, and appointments across all zones and interest groups to foster inclusion.
The report concluded by affirming the committee’s commitment to fairness and credibility, thanking the APC National Working Committee (NWC) for entrusting them with the screening assignment.
