Osun 2026: Oyetola replies Omisore, others on disqualification from APC primary

By Ayorinde Oluokun with agency report

Former Osun governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, has rejected claims that his interference in screening for the Osun governorship primary led to disqualification of some aspirants.

The speculation followed disqualification of Sen. Iyiola Omisore and six other aspirants by the APC Screening Committee on Friday

The panel said it found gaps and irregularities in their nomination documents ahead of the Dec. 13 primary.

Aside Omisore, the others disqualified are: former deputy governor of the state, Benedict Alabi; a former Senior Special Assistant to the President on Legislative Matters, Babajide Omoworare; a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Kunle Adegoke; a businessman, Dotun Babayemi; an insurance expert, Akin Ogunbiyi; and Babatunde Oralusi.

However, Omisore, who is the immediate past National Secretary of the APC and other aspirants have rejected their disqualification from the party’s governorship primary.

Speaking on behalf of the six other disqualified aspirants, Omisore said APC was “pointing at failure.” with the plan to exclude them from the governorship primary.

Joke of the Year

He described the report of the APC Screening Committee that barred them from participating in the December 13 primary election of the party as “the joke of the year.”

He spoke after meeting with the Screening Appeal Panel in Abuja on Saturday.

He alleged undue interference in the process by Oyetola to favour Oyebamiji.

“The party is pointing at failure, and the chairman of the panel told us that Minister Gboyega Oyetola called him and said they must disqualify all of us because he wants his lackey, his poster boy, Oyebamiji. Yes, he told us that he was under pressure. Unfortunately, we are in it together,” Omisore said.

Wrong, Unfair and Completely Unfounded

However, in a statement on Sunday, Dr Bolaji Akinola, Special Adviser on Media to Oyetola rejected claims that the Minister interfered in the APC screening for the Osun governorship primary.

Akinola said the allegations circulated by some aspirants were “baseless, misleading and totally false”.

He stressed that the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy played no role, direct or indirect, in decisions taken by the Screening Committee or the Screening Appeal Panel.

According to him, Oyetola did not, and could not have meddled in the screening exercise or in the affairs of the screening bodies.

He added that both panels were “independent party organs empowered by the APC Constitution to carry out their duties without interference”.

Akinola said any suggestion of undue influence was “wrong, unfair and completely unfounded”.

He noted that Oyetola had consistently upheld fairness, transparency and strict respect for party rules throughout his political career.

Akinola said: “As former Governor of Osun and a respected APC leader, Oyetola remains committed to internal democracy.”

He added that the Minister “will never interfere in a process where he has no statutory role”.

He urged aggrieved aspirants to follow the party’s established channels for complaints and dispute resolution.

Akinola reaffirmed the Minister’s commitment to unity, discipline and the greater interest of the APC in Osun.

He appealed to all stakeholders to prioritise the party’s progress and the broader welfare of Osun residents.