Former National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Iyiola Omisore, has declared his intention to contest the party’s ticket for the 2026 Osun State governorship election, expressing strong confidence in his chances.
Speaking in Osogbo on Tuesday, Omisore stated that he believes over 90 per cent of APC members in the state would support his bid during the party’s primaries scheduled for later this year.
According to the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Osun State governorship election will be held on 8 August 2026, while party primaries are to take place between 24 November and 15 December 2025.
Omisore, who represented Osun East Senatorial District in the National Assembly between 2003 and 2011, described the party’s current momentum as a sign of preparedness and unity among core APC members.
“Going forward, I am expecting the people of Osun State to vote for the APC en masse come August 8, 2026,” he said.
“This is to show the preparedness of the core APC members in the state, to show how ready we are to ensure that I become the party candidate by God’s grace in December, and to further strengthen the belief of the people in the coming APC government in Osun State.
“APC’s chance in 2026 is 100 per cent. These are volunteers from the nook and cranny of the state. This is just within the party and not yet the public – this is internal politics preparing us for the forthcoming primaries in December,” Omisore added.
His declaration marks one of the earliest formal announcements ahead of what is expected to be a closely watched and competitive governorship race in the South-Western state.
Omisore, a seasoned politician and former deputy governor of Osun State, is seeking to return to the political forefront, this time as the APC’s standard-bearer, in a bid to reclaim the state for the party.
The APC is currently in the opposition in Osun State, following the party’s loss in the 2022 governorship election. However, party faithful and leaders have been working to rebuild grassroots support ahead of the next poll.
As the December primaries approach, other aspirants within the APC are also expected to formally declare their intentions, setting the stage for a high-stakes internal contest.
