Osun APC Crisis Deepens as Integrity Group Raises Alarm over Alleged Coordinated Disqualification

The Osun State Integrity Support Group, Osogbo, acting on behalf of seven All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirants, has raised concerns over what it describes as a deliberate scheme to unlawfully remove the aspirants from the 2026 governorship contest.

In a firm statement dated Saturday, 6 December 2025, the group alleged that top party officials were executing a “premeditated and unscrupulous” plan to disqualify the aspirants. They said the purported disqualification only came to their notice after the APC posted a list on its website—which was then prominently reported by The Punch newspaper—despite none of the affected aspirants receiving formal notification.

The group condemned this as a “shocking affront to discipline, dignity and due process.”

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Alleged Scheme at APC National Secretariat

According to the Integrity Group, the disqualification exercise was driven by “unpatriotic elements” within the APC National Working Committee, allegedly acting under the instruction of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Isiaka Oyetola.

They claimed that Oyetola’s target is to install his preferred candidate, Mr. Munirudeen Bola Oyebanji, the Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), as the party’s flagbearer for the August 2026 governorship elections.

Referencing accounts from inside the APC National Secretariat, the group accused certain officials of compromising their integrity “for rewards,” and further alleged that Oyetola’s allies were invoking the name of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to legitimize their plot—conduct which they said “embarrasses the President” and amounts to impersonation.

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Undisclosed Appeal Panel and Withheld Invitations

The statement further accused Oyetola’s alleged loyalists of constituting an Appeal Panel without publicising its venue as of Friday, 5 December 2025.

The seven aspirants, the group said, have not received any official invitations to appear before the panel—an arrangement they believe is intended to allow the panel to later claim that the aspirants were absent.

They argue that this forms part of a broader effort to intimidate and demobilise the aspirants, thereby giving room for the NIWA MD’s emergence.

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Questions over Conduct of Screening Committee

Attention was also drawn to alleged irregular actions by the APC Screening Committee. Its chairman, Chief Obinna Uzor, was accused of forging the signatures of Ambassador Usman Bayara and other committee members to present a minority position as the official committee report from the screening of 3 and 4 December.

Ambassador Bayara and four other members have reportedly rejected the “unauthorised document,” insisting they will not condone any subversion of justice.

According to the Integrity Group, the majority report, which counters the controversial disqualification, will first be presented to President Tinubu before being released publicly.

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Alleged Violation by NIWA Managing Director

The statement added that Mr. Munirudeen Bola Oyebanji remains NIWA Managing Director as of Saturday, 6 December 2025—contrary to constitutional provisions, APC guidelines and the Electoral Act, all of which require his resignation before participating in party primaries.

The group alleged that Oyetola’s camp plans to submit a backdated resignation letter “to fabricate legality where none exists” if the matter becomes contentious.

It also named APC National Secretary Mr. Suraj Ajibola, National Organising Secretary Alhaji Suleiman Argungu, and Deputy National Organising Secretary Nze Chidi Duru as officials linked to the alleged scheme—none of whom have publicly denied the claims.

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Appeal to President Tinubu for Urgent Action

Representing the seven aspirants, the Osun State Integrity Support Group called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene immediately, urging him to issue a presidential directive ensuring transparency, fairness and equity in the process.

They also requested that the President disqualify the NIWA MD from the primaries based on the alleged breach of electoral requirements.

The statement was signed by Dr. Gbenga Adekunle, Convener of the Osun State APC Integrity Support Group, Osogbo, on behalf of the seven aspirants.

As internal tensions intensify, the rift within the Osun APC appears to be widening—casting uncertainty over the party’s unity ahead of the 2026 governorship election.