Five governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State on Monday called on President Bola Tinubu and the party’s National Working Committee to intervene in the crisis trailing 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 damage the party’s electoral chances in Oyo State.
Their position was contained in a communique presented during a press briefing held on Monday, May 18, 2026, at the Nigeria Union of Journalists Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan.
The aspirants include former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Rauf Olaniyan; Musbau Asanike; Akeem Agbaje; Ololade Bakare; and Oyedele Alao.
Reading the communique on behalf of the group, Alao alleged that the House of Representatives primaries conducted on Saturday, May 16, 2026, were marred by intimidation, disenfranchisement of party members, arbitrary disqualification of aspirants and alleged fabrication of results in some constituencies.
He claimed that in parts of Oke-Ogun, Ibarapa and Oyo zones, results were announced despite elections allegedly not taking place.
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 said 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 weaken 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.
“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,” the communique stated.
The group further urged the APC National Working Committee to review all petitions arising from the 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 aspirants added.
They warned that the APC in Oyo State risked avoidable electoral defeat in 2027 if the issues raised were not urgently addressed.
The PUNCH reports that the Oyo APC at the weekend 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, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Primaries Elections Committee, Mojeed Alabi, described the exercise as peaceful and orderly across the state.
Alabi, a former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, said the committee’s responsibility was to supervise the exercise, collate results and forward its report to the national leadership of the party.
“The elections were organised simultaneously across wards within each federal constituency in line with the party’s established guidelines,” he said.
“We are committed to transparency, fairness and doing what is right within the limits of available logistics.”
