Senator Iyiola Omisore, former Deputy Governor of Osun State and immediate past National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has officially become the first governorship aspirant to purchase the party’s N50 million Nomination and Expression of Interest forms ahead of the 2026 Osun State governorship election.
The development was confirmed on Thursday by APC Deputy National Organising Secretary, Nze Chidi Duru, who spoke with The PUNCH.
“Yes, it is true. And you are also right about the observation that he was the first governorship aspirant to pick the nomination and expression of interest forms,” Duru said.
Omisore collected the forms at the APC national secretariat in Abuja amid a crowd of supporters clad in customized attire. He said his decision to contest was driven by a sense of service and commitment to rebuilding Osun State.
“This is not about ambition; it is about responsibility — a responsibility to rebuild our state, restore trust in leadership, and chart a new direction for a prosperous Osun,” the former deputy governor said.
Political analysts note that Omisore’s early entry could give him a strategic advantage over the 13 other aspirants expected to join the race. Known for his strong grassroots network and deep political experience, Omisore is widely viewed as a leading contender for the APC ticket when the primary is slated for December 13, 2025.
The announcement comes amid heightened political activity in Osun, where the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is preparing for a competitive re-election bid. Governor Ademola Adeleke, seeking a second term, recently downplayed concerns about internal divisions within the PDP, insisting he remains confident of victory.
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In a statement signed by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke described the party’s internal disagreements as “a family affair” and urged supporters to remain committed. “We are cruising to victory next year, and we must remain committed to ensuring that we rebuild this party for renewed landslide victory,” he said.
Three months ago, the APC had announced that its governorship primary for the August 8, 2026 Osun election would hold on December 13, 2025. The party’s official schedule, released from its national secretariat in Abuja, pegged the cost of the Nomination and Expression of Interest forms at N50 million, a figure disclosed earlier in August by National Organising Secretary Sulaiman Argungu.
“Members whose names appear on the Register and are up to date in paying their membership dues over the past year up to February 2025 will be eligible to vote and be voted for,” the party stated.
The APC said the sale of forms commenced on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, while completed forms and delegate lists are expected to be submitted by December 1, 2025.
With Omisore leading the pack and the timetable now set, the contest for the APC governorship ticket in Osun is already shaping up to be a highly competitive race ahead of next year’s primaries.