Oyo APC Governorship Aspirants Reject House of Reps Primaries, Demand Fair Process Ahead of 2027
…Seek Tinubu’s intervention over disputed primaries
Five governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State have condemned the conduct of the party’s House of Representatives primary elections held on Saturday, May 16, 2026, describing the exercise as flawed, divisive, and lacking democratic credibility.
The aspirants made their position known in a communiqué issued after a meeting held on Monday at the Nigeria Union of Journalists Centre in Ibadan.
The communiqué was jointly signed by Rauf Aderemi Olaniyan, Musbau Asatola Asanike, Akeem Agbaje, Ololade Usman Bakare and Oyedele Hakeem Alao.
The aspirants alleged that the primaries were characterised by intimidation, disenfranchisement of party members, arbitrary disqualification of aspirants, and fabrication of results in some constituencies where elections allegedly did not hold.
According to the communiqué, party members in several federal constituencies were prevented from voting through threats, violence, and exclusion from voting venues, while some aspirants were disqualified without due process or opportunity for appeal.
The group also claimed that fabricated results were announced in parts of Oke-Ogun, Ibarapa, and Oyo zones despite the absence of elections in those areas.
The aspirants warned that the current leadership approach within the party could threaten the APC’s chances in the 2027 general elections, stressing that imposition of candidates and disregard for internal democracy may deepen divisions and weaken grassroots support.
They further stated that the outcome of the Oluyole Federal Constituency primary showed that grassroots members would resist imposed candidates regardless of elite endorsements.
While rejecting what they described as compromised direct primaries, the aspirants expressed support for a transparent consensus arrangement, saying it remains the most credible path to producing acceptable candidates within the party.
They also reaffirmed their loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stating that any decision reached by the president after due consultation with party leaders and stakeholders would be respected.
The aspirants called on the National Working Committee of the APC to investigate the conduct of the primaries in Oyo State and address all petitions arising from the exercise.
They also appealed to President Tinubu to intervene and ensure future primaries in the state are conducted in a free, fair, and transparent manner.
They urged the Oyo APC leadership to embrace reconciliation, fairness, and inclusiveness in order to prevent further division within the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
