Oyo APC Members Stage Protest Over Primary Election Results

Scores of APC supporters gathered at the party's office in Oke-Ado, Ibadan. Photo: Ademola Adegbite.

Members of the All Progressives Congress in Oluyole Local Government Area of Oyo State are demanding that the party leadership confirm Abiodun Gbolagade as the winner of the recent primary election for the Oluyole Federal Constituency.

The party members and stakeholders from the constituency made their case during a peaceful protest at the party's secretariat on Tuesday. They want Gbolagade's victory recognized following the primary election.

During the protest, Gbolagade claimed he has been supporting party activities in Oluyole for seven years. He stated, "The primary election for Oluyole Federal Constituency was conducted successfully, and I was declared winner with over 2,000 votes, while the incumbent, Hon. Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, polled 36 votes."

He urged party leaders to respect the announced results. Gbolagade believes this will strengthen unity and improve the APC’s chances in the 2027 general elections in the state.

Another voice at the protest was a retired civil servant, Mr Awo Adeleke. He insisted that "Gbolagade won the primary election and should be issued the party’s ticket for the House of Representatives election."

A protester, who chose to remain anonymous, added, "For the past eight years, Sadipe has neglected us, party members. That is why we have pitched our tents with Gbolagade, who we believe can ensure victory for the party."

She stressed, "We are here to appeal to the leadership of the Oyo APC to strictly follow the outcome of the primary election, which declared Gbolagade the winner, and not Sadipe."

The Oyo APC Chairman, Moses Adeyemo, addressed the protesters and asked them to stay calm. He described Gbolagade as a loyal party member who has "paid his dues" to the APC over the years. Adeyemo assured the crowd that the party leadership would look into their demands and take steps to ensure peace and fairness.

The PUNCH reported that the APC, on Monday, confirmed that its list of candidates for the National Assembly seats in the 2027 general elections remains unchanged.

A statement from the party’s Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, in Ibadan, said, "The list came from the National Working Committee of the party, which processed the results from the primaries held in May this year."

Sadare added that the national secretariat of the APC has uploaded the names of its candidates for the three senatorial districts and 14 House of Representatives seats in Oyo State on the Independent National Electoral Commission portal as required by law. He noted that the candidates had filled out the commission’s nomination forms at the party's national secretariat in Abuja.

Sadare expressed surprise that "some aspirants who did not secure the desired party tickets were misleading the public with fake claims through social media, while their supporters create a crisis within the party."

He clarified, "For the avoidance of doubt, nothing has changed from what was made public last week. The names submitted to INEC are as follows: Senator Yunus Akintunde, Hon. Aderemi Oseni and Mrs Hannah Ogunesan as candidates for Oyo Central, Oyo South and Oyo North Senatorial Districts, respectively."

Sadare listed House of Representatives candidates as: Hon. Akeem Adeyemi (Afijio/Atiba/Oyo East/Oyo West), Hon. Segun Odebunmi (Ogo-Oluwa/Surulere), and Hon. Tajudeen Abisodun Kareem (Atisbo/Saki East/Saki West).

He also mentioned other candidates: Hon. Akin Alabi (Egbeda/Ona-Ara), Hon. Olafisoye Akinmoyede (Akinyele/Lagelu), Hon. Folake Olunloyo-Oshinowo (Ibadan North-West/Ibadan South-West), Hon. Tolulope Akande-Sadipe (Oluyole), Hon. Olamijuwon Alao-Akala (Ogbomoso North/Ogbomoso South/Oriire), Hon. Olatubosun Oladele (Irepo/Olorunsogo/Oorelope), Hon. Umar Farouk Alao (Ibadan North), Hon. Ibrahim Iyiola (Ibadan North-East/Ibadan South-East), Hon. Sarafa Olaoniye (Ibarapa Central/Ibarapa North), Hon. Saheed Adejare Yusuf (Kajola/Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Iwajowa) and Hon. Yusuf Asimiyu Osuolale (Ibarapa East/Ido).