- Safiu Kehinde
Former National Secretary of the All Progressive Congress Otunba Iyiola Omisore, has stayed away from a peace meeting convened by President Bola Tinubu to resolve issues around the governorship candidate of the party ahead of the 2026 election.
While other aspirants who were disqualified just as Omisore showed up for the meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Omisore was conspicuously absent.
At the meeting were Bola Oyebanji and Mulikat Adeola who were cleared by the party’s screening panel to contest.
At the meeting also were others like former Deputy Governor, Gboyega Alabi, former Senator Representing Osun East Jide Omoworare, former Senator representing Osun West, Mudasiru Hussain, a senior advocate of Nigeria, Kunle Adegoke, a lawyer Dotun Babayemi, and an Insurance magnate Chief Akin Ogunbiyi.
Also in attendance at the peace meeting was the Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume.
A source at the Villa confirmed to the NPO Reports on Wednesday that Omisore was absent. The reason for his absence was not made clear as at the time of filing this report.
Recall that Omisore had three days ago ordered his followers to boycott the primary election slated for December 13.
He has said that the party will lose the 2026 election unless he is made the candidate of the party.
His supporters have said that Omisore is being betrayed after allegedly helping Oyetola to win the 2018 election after the party ran into a ditch with the election becoming inconclusive.
Omisore further accused Oyetola of reneging on the agreement they had before he allegedly supported him to win the 2018 election after.
All eyes are on Osun at the moment as the parties move to select candidates for the election to be held next year.
Just on Tuesday, incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke officially dumped the People’s Democratic Party to join the Accord Party and to fly its flag.
The All African Congress (ADC) is set to hold its primaries as well to choose a candidate.
With Omisore’s absence at the meeting called by President Tinubu, watchers are waiting for the former Deputy Governor’s next move as time runs out for Choice of candidates for the parties.