Omisore’s milestone, an asset for APC’s election victory
By Ismail Azeez, Osogbo
With the emergence of Senator Iyiola Omi sore as the National Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), one could emphatically say that the former Deputy Governor of Osun State is finally back to his base as he has the ability to take the party to a greater level.
The President Muhammad Buhari had, on Saturday, led other chieftains of the party, including his vice, Prof Yemi Osinbajo; President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; and the National leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to the venue of the National Convention at the Eagle Square, Abuja.
APC governors and their deputies, Secretary to the Government, Boss Mustapha, other APC chieftains and party delegates were equally present at the Convention.
Senator Omisore, at the convention, emerged as the ruling party’s National Secretary, alongside 76 national executives with the former Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Adamu, who emerged as the National Chairman.
The Ile-Ife-born politician became a political celebrity in the year 2018 after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the governorship election inconclusive.
Following the declaration, the National leadership of the ruling APC saw Senator Omisore, who was 2nd runner-up in the 2018 governorship election, as the best solution for the party to emerge winner in the poll.
The party’s delegates, led by Ekiti state governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, met with Senator Omisore, the then governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). An agreement was reached between the parties.
Omisore officially decamped from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in February 2021 by registering his membership card with APC.
The pioneer member of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), who is a grassroots politician, became a threat to paperweight politicians in Osun East Senatorial District after he officially decamped to APC.
Omisore served as Deputy Governor to former Governor Adebisi Akande between 1999 and 2003 and was also a senator representing Osun East from 2003 to 2009.
Testifying to his ability to turn the party around, the Governor of Osun, Adegboyega Oyetola, said, “Omisore will deploy his political sagacity, leadership qualities, and experience which he acquired in public and private sectors, towards building a virile and healthy party at the centre.”
Oyetola spoke shortly after the announcement of Omisore as the newly elected National Secretary of the party at the early hours of Sunday morning.
He described the emergence of Omisore as a round peg in a round hole, saying, “I do not doubt the capacity of Otunba Omisore to deliver and take our party to a greater level.”
The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Osun State Chapter, also said that Senator Omisore’s victory is not coming to them as a surprise given his track records as a committed party man.
According to ALGON, “We are proud of you, and we are in no doubt that your competence, capacity, and political intellect would serve as veritable instruments to move the party forward.”
