A group of party members in Osun State has submitted a petition to the APC Elders’ Council, asking for a full investigation into the eligibility and past public conduct of the party’s governorship hopeful, Otunba Iyiola Omisore.
The petition, dated 14 November 2025 and addressed to the Osun APC Igbimo Agba, forms the basis of this report.
The petitioners, drawn from several local government areas, said their request was driven by a desire to protect the image of the party and prevent what they described as electoral complications that may arise if lingering allegations linked to Omisore remain unexamined.
They raised concerns over what they described as unanswered questions surrounding his exit as APC National Secretary shortly after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took office. They noted that widespread internal claims suggesting he was directed to resign over a “$5 million bribe” allegation and reported issues involving “approximately ₦32 billion” in party finances had never been clarified publicly. The group urged the Elders’ Council to look into whether his resignation was voluntary, whether any inquiry was carried out and if any of the issues had implications for his current nomination bid.
The petitioners also drew attention to claims documented in the autobiography of former Osun governor and ex-APC National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande. They quoted passages from My Participations, where Akande wrote that:
“There were questions surrounding the authenticity of some of the credentials he (Omisore) presented…”
He also raised concerns about loyalty, saying: “Certain behaviours created deep doubts about loyalty and honesty within the political structure.”
Another account quoted from the book involved official vehicles meant for governors-elect. Akande stated that: “Iyiola Omisore was said to have used my name without my authority to collect the four cars… He sent one to me and appropriated three to himself…”
He further wrote that Omisore later claimed one vehicle was stolen on the way to Cotonou and another had a “serious accident”.
The petitioners argued that the claims, already in the public domain, should be examined by the party’s top advisory body to determine whether they raise any questions about Omisore’s suitability for the ticket.
The group also cited passages from the same book where Akande said he once confronted Omisore over perceptions that he was “a suspected advance fee fraudster and a certificate forger”. Akande wrote: “If it is only a Primary Six certificate you have, that is the one you should use… please, don’t use any certificate that is forged.”
He added that Omisore told him his certificates were burnt during the Ife–Modakeke crisis.
The petitioners asked the Elders’ Council to review certificates allegedly submitted by Omisore in prior election cycles, including those filed in 1999 and during the military era, and determine whether inconsistencies exist.
Another issue raised concerned a 2011 media claim by former federal lawmaker Hon. Rotimi Makinde. The petition cited Makinde’s statement during a press briefing that:
“I gave the identities of these assassins to the police… which belong to Omisore… Still, no arrest was made…”
The petitioners stressed that they were not presenting the allegation as fact but wanted clarity on whether it was ever investigated.
They urged the Elders’ Council to suspend Omisore’s nomination while a special ethics committee conducts a full review of all issues listed in their letter.
They said the move was necessary to preserve the credibility of the APC in Osun State and ensure that only candidates without unresolved controversies represent the party.
The petition was signed by Alex Eluwole (Ife Central), Victor Ade Siyanbola (Ife Area Office Modakeke), Cornelius Ogundiran (Obokun), Chief George Adelaja (Oriade), Hon. Tiamiyu Ololade (Odo Otin) and Dr. Mudasiru Oriola (Ejigbo).
