A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Olorunsogo Local Government Area of Oyo State, Alhaji Rasaq Raji, has dismissed claims by a House of Representatives aspirant that a primary election was conducted in the council area, describing the report as false and misleading.
Raji, in a statement issued on Monday, said no primary election had been held in Olorunsogo Local Government and that no aspirant had been officially confirmed or affirmed by the party.
The APC leader stated that no directive was issued by the party authorising any form of primary election in the area, warning members and the public against misinformation capable of creating confusion within the party.
According to the statement, the clarification followed a stakeholders’ meeting held at his residence, where party leaders and elders in the local government deliberated on the issue and unanimously condemned what they described as an unauthorised exercise.
Raji stressed that legitimate APC primaries must be conducted strictly in line with the guidelines of the party and under the supervision of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
He maintained that any exercise carried out outside the laid-down procedures lacked both legal and political validity.
The APC chieftain further appealed to party members in Olorunsogo Local Government to remain calm, united and law-abiding, urging them to disregard what he termed “sponsored misinformation” aimed at causing division within the party.
He reiterated that the APC remained united in the local government and assured members that due process would be followed at the appropriate time regarding party primaries and candidate emergence.
“The All Progressives Congress remains one united and indivisible family, and all due processes will be followed accordingly,” the statement added.