Saawua Terzungwe
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has disqualified its former National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, and six other governorship aspirants from contesting the party’s primary election ahead of the Osun State governorship election.
Those disqualified alongside Omisore are Babatunde Oralusi, Oyedotun Babayemi, Dr Akin Ogunbiyi, former Deputy Governor Benedict Alabi, Adegoke Rasheed Okiki, and former Senator Babajide Omoworare.
Only two aspirants – Mulikat Abiola Jimoh and Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji – were cleared to participate in the primary slated for December 13.
The development was contained in the report of the APC Osun Governorship Screening Committee, chaired by Obinna Uzoh.
According to the committee, the affected aspirants failed to meet the party’s mandatory nomination requirements, particularly the submission of sponsorship by at least five fully registered and financially up-to-date party members from each local government area in Osun State.
“The issues raised were weighty, substantial and germane to the integrity of the screening process.
“In the interest of fairness and transparency, the concerns could not be applied selectively. Every aspirant was subjected to the same scrutiny,” the report reads in parts.
Uzoh said the committee acted strictly in line with Articles 9.3(i) and 31.2(ii) of the APC Constitution and Paragraph 6(c) of the party’s guidelines.
“The rules of the party are binding on all members without exception. Where an aspirant falls short of such a fundamental requirement, the committee has no choice,” he said.
He confirmed that the committee’s decision followed a petition by the Osun APC Renewal Group, which alleged that some aspirants did not meet the nominator threshold.
“Rather than apply the petition to just two individuals, we extended the same verification to all nine. That is the only way internal democracy can stand,” Uzoh added.
