Gov’ship polls: How aspirants’ disqualifications will affect APC in Osun, Ekiti

As Osun and Ekiti states gear up for the 2026 governorship elections, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has adopted a strategic and increasingly controversial pattern of disqualifying a significant number of aspirants from its primaries.

The development, according to pundits, signals a concerted effort to control candidate selection while raising critical questions about internal democracy and fairness within the party.

While party officials justify this measure as adherence to constitutional and procedural standards, critics see a pattern of internal manipulation designed to favour preferred candidates and consolidate power within select party blocs.

This emerging pattern in two politically sensitive states provides critical insights into the APC’s evolving internal governance and electoral strategy, raising fundamental questions about intra-party democracy, political fairness, and the long-term electoral consequences for the party.

Daily Trust reports that in Osun State, the APC Screening Committee, chaired by Obinna Uzoh, disqualified seven of its nine aspirants for the December 13, 2025 primary ahead of the August 8, 2026 governorship election.

Those disqualified are high-profile politicians such as former national secretary of the party, Senator Iyiola Omisore; former two-term senator and Lagos Assembly member, Babajide Omoworare; former Deputy Governor Benedict Alabi, and other notable party figures like Babatunde Oralusi, Oyedotun Babayemi, Akinade Ogunbiyi, and Adegoke Adekunle.

Only Mulikat Jimoh and Munirudeen Oyebanji were cleared, having met all constitutional and guideline requirements, including proper sponsorship from party members across the state’s local government areas, according to the party.

The screening committee said the disqualifications were driven by aspirants’ failure to satisfy mandatory nomination requirements, particularly the stipulation for sponsorship by at least five fully registered and financially up-to-date party members from each Local Government Area (LGA).

The committee emphasised that the exercise was uniformly applied across aspirants, in line with Articles 9.3(i) and 31.2(ii) of the APC Constitution and Paragraph 6(c) of the party’s 2025 governorship primary guidelines.

From the party’s standpoint, this approach reinforces internal discipline and ensures that only candidates with demonstrable grassroots support and adherence to internal regulations can contest.

Pundits say by reducing the number of aspirants, the APC ostensibly aims to minimise post-primary crises, factional disputes, and legal battles that have historically plagued Nigerian party primaries.

However, the Osun disqualification exercise has been met with strong criticism from the affected aspirants.

Senator Omisore described his exclusion as “a huge joke,” alleging that the screening panel acted under external pressure, specifically pointing to Minister Gboyega Oyetola’s purported influence in favour of Munirudeen Oyebanji.

Omisore contended that neither he nor the other disqualified aspirants were formally informed of specific infractions and questioned the veracity of the committee’s claim regarding deficient nominators, arguing that the party leadership has full access to membership records and could have verified compliance.

Observers say these allegations underscore a critical tension within the APC, the need to enforce internal rules versus the perception of partisan interference.

The screening panel’s report warned that the party was at risk of electoral setbacks if disputes were not resolved.

Political watchers say the appeal mechanism through the National Working Committee (NWC) offers a formal channel for redress, yet the episode exposes fault lines in party cohesion and risks alienating key political actors.

The Osun case exemplifies the duality of disqualification as both a tool for procedural compliance and a potential instrument of political engineering.

While disqualifications can streamline primaries and reduce intra-party strife, political analysts argue that they also risk being perceived as top-down manipulations, undermining trust in party institutions and raising the specter of litigation or grassroots dissent.

Ekiti consensus politics and disqualification template

In Ekiti State, a similar pattern emerged, albeit under a different guise.

Governor Abiodun Oyebanji secured the APC ticket for a second term through a consensus arrangement, following the disqualification of two aspirants, including his main challenger, Engineer Kayode Ojo, and the withdrawal of another aspirant, Mrs. Atinuke Oluremi Omolayo, who reportedly stepped aside in his favour.

The APC National Working Committee (NWC) justified the disqualifications as compliance with the party constitution and the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended), framing the consensus mechanism as a legitimate alternative to direct primaries.

However, the process drew sharp criticism from Ojo’s supporters and civil society actors, who described the exercise as undemocratic and orchestrated to favour the incumbent.

A petition titled “An Open Appeal for Your Intervention to Protect the Unity, Integrity and Popularity of APC in Ekiti State” was sent to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, calling for revalidation of deleted party memberships and an independent review of Ojo’s disqualification.

Observers note that Oyebanji’s smooth emergence reflects careful internal negotiations and political horse-trading, illustrating the APC’s strategic use of consensus politics to consolidate power while minimising intra-party contention.

Unlike Osun, where multiple aspirants were disqualified and contestation remains possible through appeals, analysts say the Ekiti model demonstrates how a combination of disqualification and voluntary withdrawal can produce a pre-determined outcome, thereby controlling the narrative and ensuring electoral predictability.

According to pundits, the APC’s twin approaches in Osun and Ekiti suggest an evolving pattern: disqualifications are increasingly being employed as an instrument of political management rather than purely as a mechanism to enforce procedural compliance.

In Osun, observers say the focus is on meeting constitutional requirements, while the process is marred by allegations of favoritism. In Ekiti, consensus-building and selective exclusion have effectively shaped the candidate landscape in favour of the incumbent, according to observers.

It has electoral consequences – Analysts

A political analyst, Jackson Lekan Ojo, told Daily Trust that disqualifications risk alienating grassroots members and high-profile politicians who feel marginalised, potentially creating litigation risks, factionalism, or reduced enthusiasm among party supporters.

“In Osun, the marginalisation of influential figures like Omisore and Omoworare could trigger intra-party litigation or the formation of breakaway factions, potentially weakening the APC’s electoral prospects in a competitive state.

“Similarly, in Ekiti, while Oyebanji’s pre-selection reduces internal contestation, it risks creating a perception of undemocratic practices that may dampen voter enthusiasm or mobilise opposition narratives in favour of rival parties,” he said.

He warned that selective application of rules or manipulation of primaries undermines the legitimacy of internal democratic processes, eroding trust among party members and the electorate.

Another political analyst, Aminu Yakudima, told Daily Trust that the APC’s use of disqualification ahead of the Osun and Ekiti governorship elections reveals a party navigating a complex political tightrope.

“In Osun, disqualifications have exposed factional divides and raised questions about transparency and fairness, with prominent politicians challenging the credibility of the process.

“In Ekiti, the combination of disqualification and consensus politics demonstrates a sophisticated exercise in political management, yet invites scrutiny over democratic inclusivity.

“The APC is increasingly willing to employ institutional mechanisms to shape electoral outcomes, but must tread carefully to avoid alienating members, triggering litigation, or fueling opposition narratives,” Yakudima said.

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