Former Deputy Governor of Osun State and close confidante of President Bola Tinubu, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has become the first governorship aspirant to purchase the All Progressives Congress’s ₦50 million Nomination and Expression of Interest forms ahead of the 2026 governorship election.
His decision symbolically opens the floodgate of what many expect to be a tough internal battle within the APC as the party positions itself to challenge the re-election bid of Governor Ademola Adeleke.
Omisore arrived at the APC national secretariat in Abuja with a large crowd of supporters wearing customised outfits, turning the form-purchase event into a mini rally.
He said his entry into the race was driven not by personal ambition but by the need to restore confidence and build a stronger Osun.
“This is not about ambition; it is about responsibility — a responsibility to rebuild our state, restore trust in leadership, and chart a new direction for a prosperous Osun,” he said moments after picking up his forms.
His declaration comes as political momentum rises across the state. The state’s ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is also preparing for a fierce re-election battle, with incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke insisting internal disagreements within the PDP pose no threat to his second-term chances.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the governor described the reported rifts as “a family affair” and urged loyalists to stay focused ahead of next year’s polls. “We are cruising to victory next year,” he added.
The APC, in August, fixed December 13, 2025, as the date for its governorship primary. It also announced that only members updated on their dues up to February 2025 would be eligible to vote or contest.
The sale of forms began on November 12, with completed documents and delegate lists expected by December 1.
With Omisore setting the pace, and the opposition APC machinery now fully activated, spearheaded by a politician no less formidable as Omisore, the contest for the party’s ticket and the broader gubernatorial election will be no less tough and heated as has always been the case in Osun State.
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