APC Must Present Tested Candidate or Lose in 2026 – Omisore

Senator Iyiola Omisore, a former National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, has cautioned that the party risks defeat in the forthcoming Osun 2026 governorship race if it fails to nominate a strong, experienced and widely acceptable candidate.

Omisore spoke on Wednesday during grassroots consultations across Osogbo, and Olorunda Local Government Area, where he engaged party members and community stakeholders on political direction ahead of the poll cycle.

During the engagements, the APC chieftain demanded that the party prioritise aspirants who have held elective office, arguing that state leadership should reflect collective stakeholder trust, not personal ties.

“If we fail to give a viable aspirant the ticket, we will fail and lose. We must consider an aspirant who had held an elective position to run for 2026 guber race,” Omisore said.

He also knocked candidate selection based on friendship or sentiments, describing it as a gamble the party cannot afford: “Governorship seat should not be given based on friendship. You should not hire your friend for a job he can’t deliver. All of us running this race are brothers,” he warned.

“Friendship is good, but tested competence keeps a state standing,” he added, stressing unity among party aspirants.

Omisore appealed directly to APC Osun Chapter members to back him at the December 13, 2025 primary, where the party will elect its flag bearer for the 2026 governorship poll.

Reiterating his resolve, he said: “August 8, 2026 is near. We must not leave the party ticket to the free will of an individual. It must be a collective testimony across the board of stakeholders.”

He then turned the charge personal as he campaigned for support ahead of the primaries:

“On December 13, 2025, APC must choose leadership over fear. I want all of us to troop out to show love to me by choosing me as the candidate of the party for the 2026 guber race,” Omisore said.

Also speaking on the outreach trail, the Consultation Coordinator, Ajibola Famurewa, said the feedback from engagements had been positive.

“Every local government we visited, they showed us love and acceptance. I am confident Senator Omisore will emerge as the flag bearer of APC on December 13, 2025,” Famurewa said.