Osun 2026 - Cracks in APC as Omisore, Others Fault Disqualifications, Blame Oyetola
The unfolding drama within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State ahead of the 2026 governorship election has exposed deep fissures in the party’s internal cohesion.
The disqualification of seven prominent aspirants, including former National Secretary of the APC, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has sparked outrage and accusations of political manipulation.
What was expected to be a competitive primary has now been reduced to a contest between only two cleared aspirants, raising questions about transparency, fairness, and the future of the party in Osun.
Omisore, alongside six other aspirants, has dismissed the screening committee’s decision as a politically motivated hatchet job. He described the disqualification as “the biggest joke of the year,” insisting that the panel’s report was riddled with contradictions and influenced by powerful interests.
According to him, the committee chaired by Obinna Uzoh came under intense pressure to edge out frontline aspirants, thereby paving the way for a preferred candidate allegedly backed by the Presidency.
This claim has fueled speculation that the APC leadership is attempting to impose former governor Adegboyega Oyetola’s loyalists, thereby sidelining other factions within the party.
The screening committee justified its decision by citing irregularities in the nomination processes of the disqualified aspirants.
Specifically, it claimed that they failed to provide proof of sponsorship from at least five financially up-to-date party members, a constitutional requirement for eligibility. Yet, the aggrieved aspirants argue that these technicalities were selectively enforced, pointing to a broader agenda of exclusion rather than genuine compliance with party rules.
Their protest before the appeal screening committee underscores the gravity of the crisis, as they demand redress and accuse Oyetola of orchestrating the purge to consolidate his influence.
This development has far-reaching implications for the APC in Osun. The party, already grappling with internal divisions, risks alienating key stakeholders and grassroots supporters who feel disenfranchised by the process.
The perception of bias and imposition could weaken the APC’s electoral prospects, especially in a state where opposition parties are eager to exploit any cracks in the ruling party’s armor.
Calls for reconciliation from the screening committee highlight the urgency of healing these wounds, but whether the national leadership can restore trust remains uncertain.
At its core, the controversy reflects the perennial struggle within Nigerian political parties between democratic ideals and entrenched power structures.
Omisore’s defiance and the collective resistance of the disqualified aspirants symbolize a pushback against what they see as authoritarian tendencies within the APC. If unresolved, the crisis could deepen factionalism, trigger defections, and ultimately undermine the party’s chances in 2026.
The Osun APC saga is more than a local dispute; it is a cautionary tale about the dangers of internal manipulation in a democracy.
As the appeal process unfolds, the party’s ability to balance fairness with political expediency will determine not only its credibility but also its survival in the state’s volatile political landscape.
For now, the cracks are visible, and unless addressed with sincerity, they may widen into a chasm that swallows the APC’s ambitions in Osun 2026.
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