Politics

Osun APC In Limbo Over Omisore’s Demands To Support Oyebamiji

ByKazeem Badmus

PublishedMarch 2, 2026

The All Progressives Congress in Osun State are in a limbo following the demands reportedly made by the immediate-past national secretary of the party, Senator Iyiola Omisore, to support its gubernatorial candidate, Mr Bola Oyebamiji.

Omisore reportedly made some demands during the visit of the Elder Caucus (Igbimo Agba) of the party to his Ile-Ife residence last Monday.

OSUN DEFENDER reports that some elders, including Engr. Sola Akinwunmi, Chief Shuaib Oyedokun, Mr Akin Omolaoye and Prof. Mojeed Alabi visited Omisore at his Ile-Ife home last week.

The meeting, OSUN DEFENDER gathered, was facilitated by the national leader of the party, Chief Bisi Akande who was absent from the gathering.

Omisore who posted photographs taken after the meeting on his Facebook page, said discussions at the meeting centred on strengthening the unity, cohesion and continued progress of the. party.

However, sources at the meeting said the elder caucus was at Omisore’s house to seek his support for Oyebamiji.

It would be recalled that Omisore and six other gubernatorial aspirants were disqualified by the screening committee of the party ahead of the December 13, 2025 primary election.

Others disqualified aspirants include Babatunde Haketer Oralusi, Oyedotun Babayemi, Akin Ogunbiyi, former Deputy Governor Benedict Alabi, Kunle Adegoke (SAN) and Senator Babajide Omoworare.

Omisore, while speaking on his disqualification, accused the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola of being behind the development.

He said the Minister, who is the cousin of President Bola Tinubu, pressurised the screening committee chairman to disqualify them for Mr Bola Oyebamiji.

Following their disqualification, Tinubu met with the aspirants, where they agreed to endorse Oyebamiji as the consensus candidate of the party.

However, Omisore was absent at the meeting with the President as well as the primary of the party, which ratified Oyebamiji’s candidature in Osogbo.

After the primary election, Oyebamiji has visited most of the major aspirants to seek their support for the August 15 poll. He has, however, not been seen with Omisore, just as the former deputy governor also not participating actively in the activities of the party.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, a source at the meeting said the major thing Omisore demanded during the meeting was 2 senatorial tickets. He added that the former deputy governor also asked for some House of Representatives slots as well as House of Assembly tickets.

The source said, “It is true that the Elder Caucus visited Omisore and the discussion was largely fruitful. The visit was to ask for Omisore’s support for Alhaji Bola Oyebamiji to emerge as the next governor of the state.

“We all know what happened last year when Omisore was disqualified from contesting. There are some of the elders who knew that the situation was not handled very well and they needed to wade in because they knew the importance of Ile-Ife votes and they knew Omisore is the number one politician in that axis.

“Omisore has been relatively silent since the emergence of Oyebamiji as the candidate and the supporters of the party’s candidate have not done well either. Some of them are even attacking Omisore and his team on social media.

“He made demands during the meeting and the demands include having two Senators out of the three, some House of Representatives seats as well as other things. The elders said they will present his demands at the highest level but I know he can’t support the candidate without anything.”

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, a loyalist of the former National Secretary of the APC, who does not want his name in print, said Omisore told the party elders at the meeting that he was not demanding anything for himself but making sure that his loyalists are well taken care of.

“Our principal is a man of principle who cares about his own people. He invested a lot into his gubernatorial ambition but the rest is history. Whatever demands he made during the meeting were not for him but for his people.

“He knows his worth and I hope the APC also do. Not only in Ile-Ife but the entire Osun, Omisore is a household name and his support will go a long way in determining the next governor of the state,” the source stated.

Kazeem Badmus

Kazeem Badmus is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience. A professional in journalism and media writing, Kazeem prioritses accuracy and factual reportage of issues. He is also a dexterous finder of the truth with conscious delivery of unbiased and development oriented stories.