Osun Guber: APC Disqualifies Omisore, 6 Others, Clears 2 Aspirants For Primaries

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has disqualified a former national secretary of the party, Senator Iyiola Omisore, and six other aspirants from participating in its forthcoming governorship primary election in Osun state.

The others aspirant disqualified were Babatunde Oralusi, Oyedotun Babayemi, Dr Akin Ogunbiyi, former Deputy Governor Benedict Alabi, Adegoke Rasheed Okiki and Ssenator Babajide Omoworare.

However, two aspirants; Mulikat Abiola Jimoh and Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, have been cleared to contest the primary election.

This was contained in the report of the APC Osun Governorship Primary Election Screening Committee chaired by Obinna Uzoh.

The committee’s report indicated that the disqualified aspirants failed to meet the party’s mandatory nomination criteria, especially the requirement to present 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,” Uzoh said.

The panel chairman explained that the committee acted strictly in accordance 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,” Uzoh added.

He confirmed that the decision followed a petition filed by the Osun APC Renewal Group, which accused some aspirants of not meeting the nomination requirement.

“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 stated.