Elections

By-Election: APC Aspirants Reject Alleged Primary

A group of aspirants under the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ibadan North have rejected the purported conduct of party primaries in the constituency, alleging the exercise took place without due process or the constitutionally required congress.

In a communique sent to the APC National Secretariat in Abuja and made available to journalists on Monday, six of the ten aspirants declared the process invalid. The document was signed by Olaleye Segun (Ward 11), Lapade Idris (Ward 5), Farouk Arisekola (Ward 5), Adekunle Oladeji (Ward 10), Saheed Aderounmu (Ward 8), and Khalil Mustapha (Ward 5). Copies were also sent to President Bola Tinubu, the APC National Executive Committee, the National Working Committee, and the Delegates Congress Committee.

Others copied included the Oyo State APC Chairman Alhaji Olayide Abas, state executive members, INEC, and party stakeholders in the Ibadan North Federal Constituency.

The aspirants expressed concern over the absence of a delegates’ congress, describing it as a fundamental breach of the party’s rules and electoral guidelines. They argued that any outcome from such a process would be illegitimate, null, and void, insisting it would not be accepted.

They noted that the leadership of the APC in Ibadan North supports their position, calling on the public to disregard any announcements stemming from the alleged primary.

The aspirants urged the APC National Working Committee to intervene and safeguard internal democracy by ensuring a credible, transparent, and constitutionally compliant primary election. While reaffirming their commitment to the party, they appealed for fairness in the upcoming constituency by-election and stressed the need to restore confidence among party members through justice and inclusive political processes.