Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Old Irepo Federal Constituency of Oyo State have rejected the outcome of the recent House of Representatives primary election, calling on party leaders to conduct a fresh and transparent exercise.
In a strongly worded statement circulated among party faithful, the aggrieved members described the emergence of Hon. Bosun Oladele as the party’s candidate as “unacceptable,” insisting that he does not reflect the choice of the grassroots across Irepo, Oorelope, and Olorunsogo local government areas.
According to the statement, dissatisfaction over the outcome of the primary is widespread, with many party members alleging that the process was influenced by directives rather than the will of delegates. The situation, they said, led to a boycott of the exercise by several stakeholders.
“There is a general sentiment among members that this is not our choice,” the statement read. “The imposition of a candidate has weakened morale within the party and created room for internal division at a critical time.”
The group further claimed that prior to the primary election, Hon. Badmos Bashir Adeola enjoyed broad support among party members and was widely regarded as the preferred candidate due to his longstanding involvement in party activities and grassroots mobilization.
They argued that Adeola’s track record in uniting party members and executing people-oriented initiatives had earned him acceptance among youths, elders, and loyalists, making him better positioned to secure victory for the APC in the constituency.
The members warned that failure to address their concerns could cost the party the seat in the forthcoming general election, noting that opposition parties are already capitalizing on the internal crisis.
“The opposition is jubilating because they believe APC has chosen a candidate who cannot carry the people along,” the statement added. “This is a serious risk we cannot ignore.”
While reaffirming their loyalty to the APC, the stakeholders emphasized that loyalty must be matched with fairness, urging the party leadership at both the state and national levels to urgently review the outcome of the primary.
They specifically called for a fresh primary election to be conducted under close monitoring to ensure credibility, transparency, and acceptance among party members.
“Our appeal is simple: let the will of the people prevail,” the statement concluded. “If APC truly wants to retain Old Irepo Federal Constituency, then the voices of the grassroots must be respected before it is too late.”