Politics

Oyo APC Gov Aspirants Petition Tinubu Over Rigging in Reps Primaries

ByTitilope Adako

PublishedMay 19, 2026

Five governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the party’s National Working Committee to intervene in the controversy surrounding the House of Representatives primary elections conducted in the state.

The aspirants also demanded free, fair and credible primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that alleged imposition and manipulation could weaken the party’s chances in Oyo State.

The position was contained in a communique presented during a press briefing held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan.

The aspirants are former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Rauf Olaniyan, alongside Musbau Asanike, Akeem Agbaje, Ololade Bakare and Oyedele Alao.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Alao alleged that the House of Representatives primaries conducted on Saturday, May 16, were characterised by intimidation, disenfranchisement of party members, arbitrary disqualification of aspirants and alleged fabrication of results in some constituencies.

According to him, results were announced in parts of Oke-Ogun, Ibarapa and Oyo zones despite claims that elections did not hold in those areas.

Alao said, “We unequivocally reject the conduct of direct primaries that compromise the majority will of the people. Such exercises have historically bred imposition, alienation and electoral losses for the APC in Oyo State.

“The integrity of the process is as critical as the outcome; when the process is flawed, the outcome lacks democratic legitimacy.”

The group stated that party members across several constituencies had expressed dissatisfaction over what it described as the sidelining of loyal members and imposition of candidates.

The aspirants warned that continued disregard for internal democracy could deepen divisions within the party and affect its chances in the 2027 elections.

While backing a transparent consensus arrangement, they maintained that any consensus process must reflect consultations with stakeholders and the collective interest of party members.

They also reaffirmed their loyalty to Tinubu, saying they would abide by any decision reached after consultations with party leaders and stakeholders.

The aspirants said, “As loyal members of the APC, we hold that the voice of our leader and President is final in matters of party direction. Whoever he picks, after due consultation and consideration with leaders and stakeholders across the state, will be our resolve.

“We call on the APC National Working Committee to review all petitions arising from the House of Representatives primaries, including alleged illegal disqualifications and fabricated results.

“We also urge the Oyo APC leadership to embrace reconciliation, justice and fairness in order to prevent further division within the party.”

The group warned that the APC in the state could face avoidable electoral defeat in 2027 if the issues raised were not urgently addressed.

The APC had earlier released the names of candidates who emerged in the primary elections for the 14 federal constituencies in the state, with 74 aspirants cleared to participate in the exercise.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the House of Representatives Primaries Elections Committee, Mojeed Alabi, described the exercise as peaceful and orderly across the state.

Alabi said the committee’s responsibility was to supervise the exercise, collate results and forward its report to the national leadership of the party.

He said, “The committee’s responsibility is to supervise, collate results, and ensure that the primaries were conducted properly across wards, before forwarding its report to the national leadership of the party for final approval.

“The elections were not conducted at a central location but were organised simultaneously across wards within each federal constituency, in line with the party’s established guidelines.

“Our work is to superintend, collate, ensure that things are done properly, and transmit our report to the national executive of the party. It is the national leadership that has the final authority to declare the results.

“We are committed to transparency, fairness, and doing what is right within the limits of available logistics.”

Titilope Adako

Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.