Earlier, it was announced that the APC had disqualified Iyiola Omisore and six others from contesting for the position of Osun State governor.
The All Progressives Congress in Osun State is in the middle of a crisis as the disqualification of aspirants for the position of governor threatens to tear the party apart.
Earlier, it was announced that the APC had disqualified Iyiola Omisore and six others from contesting for the position of Osun State governor.
Others affected included Deputy Governor Benedict Olugboyega Alabi, Dotun Babayemi, Akin Ogunbiyi, Senator Babajide Omoworare, Kunle Adegoke (SAN), and Babatunde Haketer Oralusi.
The seven-member screening committee, led by Barrister Obinna Uzor, made the announcement last Friday.
The committee cleared Hon. Mulikat Adeola Jimoh and Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji for the December 13 primary election.
According to the committee, these persons fulfilled all regulatory requirements outlined in the party guidelines, Constitution, and the Electoral Act.
The seven disqualified aspirants were accused of failing to secure sponsorship from at least five fully registered and financially up-to-date members from each local government area, as required under Articles 9.3(i) and 31.2(ii) of the APC Constitution and Paragraph 6(c) of the APC Guidelines.
Soon after the announcement, one of the affected persons, Senator Iyiola Omisore, denied that he was screened out.
According to him, the reports of his disqualification were untrue, as the screening committee did not at any point announce such to him.
However, APC sources confirmed to SaharaReporters that the affected persons were disqualified.
Top APC sources told SaharaReporters that the screening committee only approved two persons.
"It is true that the disqualification happened,” one of the sources said.
Meanwhile, the affected persons have denied that they did not have the mandated number of financial members to pass the screening stage.
"It's not true, it is a bogus excuse by the party to claim that affected persons did not have financial members. How is it possible that those who could buy form would not get financial members to sign their nomination forms? The committee is being insincere," a member of the campaign team for one of the affected politicians told SaharaReporters on condition of anonymity.
It was further gathered that the affected politicians had filed an appeal against the decision, with expectations of receiving a ruling on Sunday, December 7, 2025. However, no decision has been delivered yet.
"The appeal was filed and it was thought that by Sunday, the committee would make its position known, whether to ratify the decision to disqualify the candidates or reject it but they did not give a verdict as of today Sunday,” the source said.
Multiple sources also told SaharaReporters that the party risks a major internal split if the move stands.
"Already, some persons are threatening to leave the party of polarise it, and it's not a good one for the APC," one of the sources told SaharaReporters.
It was gathered that the APC National Working Committee is expected to meet on Monday in a bid to quell the growing anger within the party.
"The NWC plans to meet today and that will decide the trajectory of the party,” a source said.
Multiple sources blame former Governor Gboyega Oyetola, now serving as Minister of Marine and Blue Economy in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet, for the crisis that has threatened to destabilise the party.
"The two remaining persons are Oyetola's men. What they are trying to do in Osun State is same thing they did in Ekiti State and it is imposition of candidates," a top chieftain of the APC in Osun said.
Party sources also fear that the development could bolster the Rauf Aregbesola camp. Aregbesola, a former governor of the state and former APC member, is currently with the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
"With threats of defection and the internal crisis, if not well managed the Aregbesola Camp gets stronger by the day. This is given that the incumbent governor does not even have a political party at the moment and that leaves the Osun State governorship election so unpredictable," another source said.
SaharaReporters gathered that disgruntled party members have already begun exploring alternatives should the NWC ratify the disqualification, with many describing the move as an act of injustice.
As of the time of filing this report, the positions of the NWC and the party’s screening committee remain unclear.