Why reconciliation between Oyetola, Omisore fell through

Unresolved disputes over political appointments and candidate selection were responsible for the collapse of reconciliation efforts between the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, and the former National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Iyiola Omisore, sources familiar with the matter have told NewsDirect.

Olawumi Jamiu, an ally of Senator Omisore, in an interview with NewsDirect accused Oyetola of unilaterally selecting both the governorship candidate and the running mate.

He also alleged that Oyetola imposed defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as candidates for National Assembly and House of Assembly seats.

Jamiu stated that members of Omisore’s political faction felt sidelined in the distribution of political positions and opportunities within the Osun State chapter of the APC.

He noted that many members of the Omisore group viewed these actions as a deliberate attempt to marginalize their leader and force him out of the party.

According to him, reconciliation became difficult because the Omisore camp believed it was not being adequately recognized despite its contributions to the growth of the party.

“For Oyetola to pick the governorship candidate and deputy, and impose people who are just coming from the PDP and give them tickets for the National Assembly and House of Assembly elections, it is as if people who follow Omisore are no longer in reckoning in Osun State.”

“There was a recognition that what they did was to aggravate the issue, expecting the camp of Omisore to keep quiet and just watch them because they thought he would leave the party. Omisore will not leave the party he co-founded, seeded, and germinated in 1998; he will never leave the party. We are in the party, but we are not going to support them. Omisore might give his money; he is our financier, our sponsor, and our elder statesman,” Jamiu said..

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, an ally of the former governor countered the narrative, noting that while a reconciliation was attempted, Omisore wanted to dominate the arrangements.

The source defended Oyetola as a peace-loving leader who has been actively working to strengthen party unity, adding that Omisore was unwilling to accept a compromise for the sake of the party’s electoral success.

“As it stands now, Omisore is no longer with us, and his cronies are causing more trouble for us than the ruling Accord Party in the state. Party leaders have accepted that they are no longer part of us, and we are rejigging our strategies to ensure our eventual victory. Omisore cannot have it all,” the source stated.