2027: Oyo APC leaders demand direct primaries, warn against imposition
Stakeholders in the Ibadan Northwest/Southwest Federal Constituency, under the aegis of Apex Leaders, have urged the national and state leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to adopt direct primaries
- From Yinka Adeniran, Ibadan
Stakeholders in the Ibadan Northwest/Southwest Federal Constituency, under the aegis of Apex Leaders, have urged the national and state leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to adopt direct primaries for aspirants contesting elective positions in the area.
The group warned that the party risks another electoral setback, similar to the outcomes in 2019 and 2023, if an unpopular candidate is imposed on constituents.
The leaders made the appeal during a press conference held on Tuesday at the NUJ Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan, stressing the need for a level playing field for all aspirants rather than adopting consensus arrangements or imposing candidates.
The event was attended by party leaders, House of Representatives aspirants and a large number of constituents.
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Speaking on behalf of the group, a party chieftain, Chief Wale Ohu, said the stakeholders are committed to building a more responsible, effective and credible APC in Oyo State and across Nigeria.
He disclosed that the group had submitted a letter dated April 1, 2026, to the party’s National Chairman, with copies sent to other key officials, including the National Secretary, National Vice Chairman (Southwest), National Deputy Auditor, the State Chairman, as well as party leaders Chief Bisi Akande and Aremo Olusegun Osoba.
The letter was endorsed by 42 party leaders from the constituency.
Ohu, flanked by prominent figures including former Secretary to the State Government, Chief Akin Olajide, and former Commissioner for Environment, Chief Lowo Obisesan, maintained that the APC has strong prospects of winning elections in Oyo State in 2027 if it adheres to the demands of its members.
The letter read, "The Electoral Act of 2026 (as amended) stipulates that the aspirants jostling for the electives offices in 2027 general elections should emerge as candidates through "DIRECT primaries or consensus within the aspirants".
"However, in as much as we subscribe to this position, We the leaders of both local government, believe imposition in any form without the consensus arrangement by the leaders, and stakeholders may spell doom as it will not be in our interest for unpopular candidates to take undue advantages to enter through back door.
"In retrospect, the party has always suffered humiliating defeats whenever candidates were imposed. Good references were our reoccurring failures at the polls in 2019 and 2023 respectively. In those election cycles referenced, the imposed candidate, Hon. Saheed Fijabi of the APC was flatly defeated twice by the Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP), Hon Dhikrulahi Stanley Olajide a.k.a
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Odidiomo.
"We should also take a cue from what happened during the bye-election conducted to fill the vacant seat of Ibadan North Federal Constituency, where a candidate was imposed on the party members. The members went to the poll
divided and this led to a monumental failure for our party in the election.
"Consequent upon these harrowing experiences, the critical stakeholders within the constituency have deemed it imperative to alert the National Headquarters of our great party to avert the impending doom of imposing candidates on the party for the 2027 general elections.
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"Rather, the Party should adhere strictly to the principles of constitutional democracy by conducting "Direct primaries" in which all the party members shall participate without let or hindrance. This is the only way through which the
Party can avert bitterness, acrimony and bad blood among the members, including possible protest votes.
"In other words, the Party leaders and generality of the members cherish openness, transparency, probity and accountability.
"Our paramount interest is the general elections of 2027 and we are committed to the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in particular and other APC candidates in general. So, we are resolute and firm on our stand to ensure that principles of transparency and fairness are adhered to in the interest of our party and that every member and aspiring members are provided level playing ground in the interest of natural justice, equity, fairness, and good conscience."
