By Erewunmi Peace

The camp of Adegboyega Oyetola has strongly denied claims that he meddled in the screening process for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary in Osun State, dismissing them as “baseless and misleading.”

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser, Bolaji Akinola, on Sunday, the camp described the allegations as “totally false,” saying that Oyetola “did not, and could not have meddled in the screening exercise or in the affairs of the Screening Committee and the Screening Appeal Panel.” According to Akinola, those bodies are independent party organs empowered by the APC constitution — and any suggestion of undue influence is “wrong, unfair and completely unfounded.”

He added that Oyetola remains committed to fairness, transparency and internal party democracy, insisting he has “no statutory role” in the screening process and urging aggrieved aspirants to use established party mechanisms for redress.

Aspirants Reject Disqualifications, Accuse Oyetola of Orchestrating Screening Outcome

The denial comes days after the APC screening panel disqualified former national secretary Iyiola Omisore and six other aspirants from the state’s governorship primary scheduled for December 13. The panel cited “gaps and irregularities” in their nomination documentation — in particular, failure to present proof of sponsorship by at least five fully registered and financially up-to-date party members from each Local Government Area, as required under party rules.

Reacting angrily, Omisore rejected the screening report as “the jokest report of the year,” alleging that the panel produced multiple contradictory versions and that the one submitted to the party secretariat was not the original. He also claimed that the screening panel chairman privately told them that the disqualifications were ordered by powerful interests — specifically implicating Oyetola and naming a purported preferred candidate.

“We are aware that the panel members have two, three reports. The one taken to the secretariat wasn’t the original report… as we speak today, none of us has seen their report or why we were disqualified.” — Iyiola Omisore

He questioned the fairness of the process and demanded to know the exact basis for their exclusion, arguing that the party leadership already has the membership register and should verify nominators without disqualifying aspirants.

What the Official Screening Panel Says

The screening committee, led by Obinna Uzoh, submitted its report on December 4, 2025, recommending the disqualification of seven aspirants and clearing only two — Mulikat Adeola Jimoh and Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji — on grounds that only they fully complied with the nomination sponsorship requirements stipulated in the APC constitution and guidelines.

The committee said all forms, declarations, supporting documents and attachments submitted by aspirants were examined, and interviews conducted — as part of a structured evaluation aimed at ensuring fairness and compliance.

The Fault Lines: What the Dispute Reflects

No Public Proof of External Interference (Yet): While aspirants accuse Oyetola of unduly influencing the screening, and while the ministry’s aide rejects those claims, there is currently no publicly available documentary evidence — such as call logs, letters or whistle-blower testimony — to incontrovertibly prove interference.

Procedural vs. Political Grievances: The disqualification was formally justified based on procedural non-compliance. But the aspirants’ rejection suggests deeper political grievances — namely that the screening process was manipulated to favor a preferred candidate.

Potential Rift in Party Cohesion: The sharp disagreement threatens unity within the APC in Osun State ahead of the primaries. As one media outlet put it, the situation has deepened “cracks in APC” in the state.

What’s Next: Appeal, Party Decision, or Legal Action?

The disqualified aspirants have already approached the screening-appeal panel and indicated potential further action depending on whether their grievances are addressed.
Meanwhile, the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) may still act — either to uphold the disqualifications or revisit them in the face of mounting pressure.

Given how sharply the leadership and aspirants differ, the next few days will be critical for internal APC politics in Osun — and potentially for the public credibility of the primary process.