Bolaji Akinola, Special Adviser to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, has strongly refuted claims made by Senator Iyiola Omisore. Omisore, an Osun State governorship aspirant, alleged that Minister Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola interfered in the All Progressives Congress (APC) screening process. In a Sunday statement, Akinola labelled Omisore’s allegations as “baseless, misleading, and totally false.”

Omisore’s accusations came after his disqualification. Six other aspirants were also disqualified from the party’s primary. This primary is scheduled for December 13, 2025.

Earlier on Saturday, Omisore spoke with newsmen in Abuja. He criticized his disqualification from the Osun governorship primary. He called the decision “a huge joke.” Omisore accused the screening panel of bias and procedural violations. He claimed they acted under pressure. This pressure, he said, aimed to disqualify aspirants and favour a particular candidate.

Speaking for Minister Oyetola, Akinola firmly distanced the Minister from the controversial screening decisions. He stated that Oyetola, a former Osun State Governor, played “no role, whether direct or indirect,” in the Screening Committee’s decisions for the upcoming primary.

Akinola stressed the independence of the APC’s Screening Committee and Screening Appeal Panel. These are constitutional organs, he noted, empowered to function without external interference. He affirmed Oyetola’s commitment to fairness, transparency, and strict adherence to party rules. These principles, Akinola added, the Minister would never compromise.

The Special Adviser further asserted Oyetola’s commitment to internal democracy as a respected leader. He urged all aspirants to use the party’s established internal mechanisms. This, he said, is preferable for channelling complaints instead of making public allegations.