Senator Iyiola Omisore becomes the first APC aspirant to pick ₦50m governorship forms ahead of the 2026 Osun election, pledging to rebuild the state

Iyiola Omisore Osun Governorship Race officially kicked off on Thursday as the former Deputy Governor of Osun State and immediate past National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Iyiola Omisore, became the first aspirant to purchase the party’s ₦50 million Nomination and Expression of Interest forms ahead of the 2026 governorship election.

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The development, confirmed by the APC’s Deputy National Organising Secretary, Nze Duru, marks the formal start of what promises to be a fiercely contested battle for the party’s ticket.

“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 told reporters in Abuja.

Arriving at the APC national secretariat with a jubilant crowd of supporters clad in customised attire, Omisore said his decision to enter the race was driven by a sense of duty and vision for Osun State’s future.

“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 declared.

The development comes amid growing political mobilisation across Osun, where the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is also preparing for a re-election showdown.

Governor Ademola Adeleke, who is seeking a second term, recently dismissed fears that internal PDP disagreements could weaken his campaign.

In a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke described the disputes as “a family affair” and assured supporters that he remained “cruising to victory.”

“We are cruising to victory next year and must remain committed to ensuring that we rebuild this party for renewed landslide victory,” the governor said.

According to the APC’s schedule of activities released in August, the party’s governorship primary for the August 8, 2026 Osun election will hold on December 13, 2025.

The party pegged the cost of the Nomination and Expression of Interest forms at ₦50 million. Its National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Argungu, announced that the sale of forms began on November 12, 2025, while completed forms and delegate lists must be submitted by December 1, 2025.

“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,” Argungu stated.

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With Omisore’s declaration setting the pace, the battle lines for the Osun APC governorship ticket are now drawn, signalling an early start to a potentially intense political season in the state.