The All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship primary screening process in Osun State has erupted into a major controversy, with seven aspirants challenging their disqualification and alleging procedural irregularities and political interference.
Hon. Hareter Babatunde Oralusi, one of the disqualified aspirants, has formally appealed to the APC National Secretariat’s Governorship Screening Appeal Committee, describing his disqualification as “factually inaccurate” and a violation of constitutional principles of fair hearing.
In his detailed appeal letter dated for the 2025 Osun APC Gubernatorial Primary, Oralusi contested the Screening Committee’s finding that he “failed to meet the mandatory nomination requirement of being sponsored by five fully registered and financially up-to-date members from each Local Government Area.”
Oralusi argued that the Screening Committee never confronted him with allegations of defective sponsorship during the screening process, citing Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution which guarantees fair hearing in determining rights and obligations.
Perhaps most damaging to the Committee’s credibility, Oralusi disclosed that the purported screening report “was neither signed by the members of the Screening Committee nor formally issued by them,” rendering it “anonymous, unauthenticated, and legally unreliable.
The aspirant challenged the Committee to produce evidence of the alleged contraventions, arguing that “mere assertion without authentication cannot form the basis of exclusion from a party primary.”
Omisore’s Explosive Allegations
The controversy deepened with revelations from Senator Iyiola Omisore, a veteran politician and former deputy governor, who made explosive allegations about the screening process.
Omisore described the panel report as “the jokest report of the year” and made serious accusations of political interference, claiming that “the chairman of the panel told us that Minister Gboyega Oyetola called him that they must disqualify all of us because he wants his lackey, his poster boy, Oyebamiji.”
Omisore alleged that the panel members prepared “two, three reports” and that “the one taken to the secretariat wasn’t the original report.” He emphasized that none of the disqualified aspirants had seen the actual report or understood the basis for their disqualification.
“The chairman of the Screening Committee told us that he was under pressure,” Omisore stated, suggesting external influence on what should have been an independent process.
The screening controversy appears to reflect deeper divisions within the Osun APC. Omisore noted that even the Committee acknowledged in their report that “the party is factionalised” and “likely to lose election,” raising questions about party unity ahead of the governorship contest.
The allegations raise serious questions about the integrity of the APC’s internal democratic processes. With veteran politicians like Omisore describing themselves as “germane” and questioning “where do we go from there” when established party members are disqualified, the controversy threatens to undermine party cohesion.
The disqualified aspirants on Saturday presented their cases before the Appeal Committee of Senator Tolu Odebiyi, seeking a reversal of the decision of the screening committee. The outcome could significantly impact the APC’s prospects in Osun State, particularly given the allegations of factionalisation and the potential for the controversy to affect party unity.
The controversy also raises broader questions about internal democracy within Nigerian political parties and the need for transparent, fair processes that uphold constitutional principles of natural justice.
As the appeal process unfolds, all eyes will be on whether the APC leadership can resolve this crisis in a manner that preserves party unity while ensuring adherence to democratic principles and the rule of law.
Crediblenewsng.com
