Osun 2026: Omisore's entry unsettles APC

• Party Picks Date for Convention

By Sola Isola and Taofik Jimoh

Entry of Otunba Iyiola Omisore into the race for the 2026 Governorship Ticket of the Osun All Progressives Congress have caused a melodrama within the party.

Osun Spring reports that Omisore a former Deputy Governor of Osun, and former National Secretary of the party is believed by some members of the party as being able to pull mores crowd for the party.

While making the announcement of his declaration on his official X handle, Omisore tagged the theme as ‘Fix the Broken, Restore Our Dreams’.

Omisore, who represented Osun east from 2003 to 2011 in the senate, said the ambition is about restoring hope and strengthening governance in the state.

“This is not just my mission, it is a collective one. I believe strongly that together, we can restore hope, strengthen governance, and deliver a brighter future for every son and daughter of Osun,” he wrote.

Prior to the entry of Omisore into the race, MD CEO of National Inland Waterways, Bola Oyebamiji is reportedly the favourite of both leaders and members of the party.

Recall that Osun Spring had earlier reported that Otunba Iyiola Omisore has named all APC Chairmen in the state as his campaign coordinator across the state.

Omisore made this known in a now viral video obtained by Osun Spring in a meeting he held with all Ward Chairmen of APC in Osun state.

Osun Spring reports that there are now 9 aspirants in Osun APC hustling to become the party’s flagbearer.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially slated its governorship primary election in Osun State for December 13, 2025, ahead of the August 8, 2026 governorship poll.

According to a timetable released by the party’s National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Argungu, and made available at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday, the nomination and expression of interest forms will cost ₦50 million.

The election process is set to kick off with a formal notice to the Osun State chapter on October 3, 2025, while an update of the party’s membership register will run from October 20 to 31, 2025. Only members who are financially up to date—having paid their dues up to February 2025—and appear in the updated register will be eligible to participate as voters or aspirants.

Key dates on the party’s election timetable include:

Sale of forms begins: November 12, 2025

Deadline for submission of completed forms and delegate list: December 1, 2025

The APC has waived the cost of the nomination form for women and persons with disabilities, requiring them to only pay for the expression of interest form, as part of its inclusion policy.

Youth aspirants between ages 25 and 40 will also enjoy a 50% discount on the nomination form, while paying the full fee for the expression of interest.

As of the time of filing this report, no fewer than a dozen party chieftains have shown interest in clinching the party’s ticket.

Among the frontrunners are Senator Ajibola Basiru, National Secretary of the APC; Bola Oyebamiji, Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA); Otunba Iyiola Omisore, Former Deputy Governor of Osun State; Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi, businessman/insurance expert; Dotun Babayemi; Senator Babajide Omoworare; Senator Mudashiru Hussain; Benedict Alabi, Former Deputy Governor; Kunle Adegoke (SAN), Legal luminary, among others.