- 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 Abiola Jimoh 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 and the National Chairman of the APC, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda; Chairman of the Progressive Governors, Hope Uzodimma.
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.
President Tinubu was quoted to have praised all the aspirants for their contributions to the APC in Osun State, just as he urged them to close ranks and support the consensus candidate the party.
He also advised them to avoid the internal bickering and disunity that caused the party to lose the last election in the state to the Peoples Democratic Party.
A statement later released by the Presidency said Tinubu harped on the importance of party supremacy, charging the aspirants to allow it to prevail in choosing the flag bearer.
“You all have a duty and obligation to the party by ensuring the candidate of our party wins the next election in Osun State. You must strengthen the bonds of unity, party supremacy and collective responsibility. I have absolute confidence in your ability to deliver victory to our party in Osun State. You have my support and that of the National leadership of APC to win the coming election,” President Tinubu assured.
At the end of the meeting, a joint statement was issued in which the aspirants and the leaders committed to support the candidate who would emerge at the primary.
Here is the statement signed by all the aspirants and the APC leaders:
“We, the undersigned aspirants for the 2025 Osun State Governorship Election under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), having met and deliberated in the presence of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the National Chairman of the APC, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and in the spirit of unity, discipline, and loyalty to our great party, hereby declare as follows:
1. That we affirm and uphold the supremacy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in guiding and determining the most appropriate process for selecting the party’s flag bearer for the 2025 Governorship Election in Osun State.
2. That we unanimously agree to abide by the party’s decision to nominate a consensus candidate for affirmation at the APC Primary Election scheduled for Saturday, 13th December 2025.
3. That we accept the outcome of the party-led nomination process in good faith, and pledge our total support to the candidate so nominated and affirmed.
4. That we commit ourselves to peace, unity, and cohesion within the APC, and pledge not to engage in any act, public or private, that may undermine the integrity of the process or the standing of the party.
5. That we will work collectively and individually to ensure the success of the APC at the polls and the consolidation of good governance in Osun State.
“We make this declaration voluntarily, in absolute loyalty to our great party, and in recognition of the guidance provided by Mr President and the National Chairman in the overriding interest of the progress and stability of Osun State”.