Five governorship aspirants under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, on Sunday, kicked against what they termed alleged imposition, intimidation and manipulation in the party’s ongoing primary election process, warning that the development could threaten the party’s chances in the 2027 general elections.
The aspirants under the aegis of APC G5, made their position known during a press conference held at the Dapo Aderogba Hall of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan.
The communiqué presented at the briefing was jointly signed by former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Rauf Olaniyan; Musbau Asanike; Akeem Agbaje; Ololade Usman Bakare, and Oyedele Hakeem Alao.
Alao while reading the communiqué on behalf of the group, accused the party leadership in the state of undermining democratic principles during the House of Representatives primary election held on May 16, 2026.
According to the aspirants, the exercise was marred by widespread irregularities, procedural violations and what they described as a growing erosion of trust among party members.
The G5 alleged that several party members were intimidated and disenfranchised during the primaries, while some aspirants were allegedly disqualified without fair hearing or access to an appeal process.
The aspirants further alleged that fabricated results were announced in some constituencies, particularly in Oke-Ogun, Ibarapa and Oyo zones, despite claims that elections were not conducted in parts of those areas.
They maintained that the outcome of the primaries had generated widespread grievances among party faithful across the 33 local government areas of the state, warning that continued imposition of candidates could deepen internal divisions within the party.
The group while citing the outcome of the Oluyole Federal Constituency primary election, argued that grassroots party members had already demonstrated resistance to imposed candidates.
The aspirants insisted that the APC in Oyo State could not afford to repeat what they described as the mistakes that cost the party victory in the 2019 and 2023 governorship elections if it truly hopes to reclaim power in 2027.
They also reaffirmed their loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stating that they would abide by any decision reached by the President after due consultation with stakeholders across the state.
The group appealed to President Tinubu to intervene and compel both the national and state leadership of the party to ensure free, fair and credible primaries ahead of the 2027 elections.
Among other resolutions reached at the meeting, the aspirants called on the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC to review the House of Representatives primaries conducted in Oyo State and address all petitions arising from the exercise.
They also urged the state leadership of the party to desist from actions capable of worsening divisions within the APC.
Earlier in his remarks, former Deputy Governor Olaniyan, said the gathering was not aimed at fighting the party leadership but at ensuring APC’s return to power in Oyo State in 2027.
Olaniyan warned against repeating strategies that failed the party in previous elections, insisting that fairness, inclusiveness and internal democracy remained critical to party unity and electoral success.
Kemi Olaitan
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