David Oladimeji
The political climate in Osun State simmered anew on Saturday as a coalition of APC stakeholders submitted a detailed petition urging the party’s Elders’ Council to open a formal investigation into the eligibility and recent history of Otunba Iyiola Omisore, a frontline governorship aspirant.
The petition, addressed to the Osun APC Igbimo Agba, raises a catalogue of unresolved controversies, long-circulating rumours, and questions the petitioners say must be confronted before the party can confidently field any candidate in 2026.
Framed as a defence of party integrity and electoral viability, the document reflects both the deep internal divisions within the APC in Osun and the enduring shadow cast by Omisore’s long, dramatic political journey.
At the heart of the petition is what the stakeholders describe as the “suspicious and untidy” circumstances surrounding Omisore’s abrupt resignation as APC National Secretary shortly after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office.
Many party members, according to the petition, still interpret the exit as evidence of unresolved issues rather than a voluntary step.
The petition cites widespread rumours that Omisore was allegedly directed to resign over claims of financial misconduct, including unaccounted party funds and alleged interactions with a presidential aspirant during the 2022 primaries.
None of these claims have been officially confirmed, yet the petitioners argue that the silence of party organs has allowed speculation to flourish unchecked.
They asked the Igbimo Agba to determine whether any internal investigation had taken place, whether disciplinary reports existed, and whether the circumstances of the resignation should affect Omisore’s current governorship ambition.
The petition then turns to one of the most controversial sources of intra-party tension: the allegations documented in Chief Bisi Akande’s memoir, My Participations.
Akande, a former Osun governor and a revered APC elder, had raised concerns about trust, loyalty and the authenticity of some credentials allegedly linked to Omisore.
Citing a litany of personal recollections from the book—including the infamous Peugeot 504 episode in which Akande said cars meant for a governor-elect were diverted—the petitioners argue that these narratives remain unaddressed and risk damaging the moral image of the party.
More sensitive still are Akande’s accounts of certificate issues dating back to the late 1990s, where he recounted warning Omisore against submitting forged documents and advising him to use only genuine credentials. The petition urges the Elders’ Council to compare documents submitted across different election cycles to determine whether discrepancies exist.
In a further escalation, the petition references allegations once made in 2011 by former lawmaker Rotimi Makinde, who had claimed that Omisore was connected to violent incidents involving members of his extended family. The petitioners stress that they are not asserting this as fact, but insist that the seriousness of such public claims warrants clarification.
Against this backdrop, the coalition calls for the immediate suspension of Omisore’s governorship nomination until a full investigation is conducted.
They argue that failing to do so could expose the party to electoral risk and erode public trust at a time when the APC must project unity and moral clarity.
To this end, they urge the establishment of a Special Ethics and Compliance Committee empowered to conduct a comprehensive inquiry, invite testimonies, review documents, and present findings before the party proceeds with any nomination processes.
The petitioners couch their demands in the language of loyalty and responsibility, stating that they act not out of personal rivalry but out of a commitment to preserve the integrity and credibility of the APC brand in Osun and beyond.
Signatories include party figures across Ife Central, Modakeke, Obokun, Oriade, Odo Otin and Ejigbo—an indication that concerns about Omisore’s candidacy cut across multiple local blocs within the APC.
In a final rhetorical flourish, they added a pointed Yoruba line hinting at the sensitive political undertones of the moment: “O ṣe ohun tí ẹ fẹ fi san Ajani, ọmọ Omisore rẹ abi?”—a question capturing the personal, historical and emotional layers behind the political contest.
Whether the Elders’ Council will launch the requested probe remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the Omisore question has once again reopened old wounds in Osun politics, and the APC must navigate them with care as 2026 edges closer.
