Hitches, Disagreement Trail APC Choice Of Candidates In Ondo Ekiti

By Ayodele Oni

There are hitches and disagreements in some states being controlled by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over those that will fly the party’s flag in the 2027 general elections through a consensus arrangement is experiencing hitches in many states.

Our correspondents report that the process has plunged many state chapters of the APC into crisis, as governors are trying to take advantage of the provision to endorse their preferred candidates.

The Electoral Act 2026 makes provision for two methods of primaries, either through consensus or direct primary.

This rules out the option of indirect primary, which could have been the third option.

The APC leadership, however, prefers the consensus option, as it is less cumbersome in terms of logistics than direct primaries, which require large venues and mass movement of people to conduct.

The party noted, however, that where a local chapter fails to reach an agreement, a direct primary should be conducted to select candidates.

President Bola Tinubu has made it clear to the governors and aspirants to work towards consensus in picking candidates but where it fails, they should go for primary election.

In Ondo state, some candidates for the state House of Assembly, Senate and Representatives have emerged through consensus, but some areas are yet to agree.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has held stakeholders meeting in all the senatorial districts preaching consensus rather than election.

In some local governments, the governor is being accused of imposing his favourites as consensus candidates, which was rejected.

Youths from Odigbo Constituency II in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State staged a peaceful protest in Araromi Obu, rejecting the candidature of Atoyebi Aderonke, an aspirant for the Ondo State House of Assembly.

The protesters alleged that the aspirant was imposed by Governor Aiyedatiwa without adequate consultation with key stakeholders in the constituency, describing the development as “undemocratic and unacceptable.”

Speaking during the protest, the Youth President of Araromi Obu Kingdom, Comrade Dayo Akinro, said the community would not accept what he described as the selection of a candidate without broad-based consensus.

Report from Ekiti state is not different as APC members are accusing the state Secretariat of APC and a close relation of Governor Biodun Oyebanji of hoarding nomination forms and releasing them only to their favourites.

Some concerned stakeholders have protested against the development and called for level plain field for all the aspirants.

Even areas where consensus candidates had earlier been announced, aspirants are coming out to participate in primary election.

In one of their protests, the stakeholders stated that “We wish to bring to the attention of the public a disturbing development concerning the distribution of House of Assembly nomination forms in Ekiti State.

“Reports indicate that Mr. Lekan Oyebanji, brother to the Executive Governor of Ekiti State, widely referred to as “Governor 2,” has allegedly taken control of the nomination forms meant for aspirants across the state.

“It is further reported that no fewer than ten aspirants who have duly paid for these forms are currently stranded at the Party Secretariat, unable to access what rightfully belongs to them.

“This situation raises serious concerns about fairness, transparency, and internal democracy within the party structure.

“More troubling are allegations that armed police officers have been deployed to the Party Secretariat, creating an atmosphere of intimidation and fear among aspirants.

“These officers, who ought to be engaged in addressing pressing security challenges, including the rescue of abducted persons in Eda Oniyo, are reportedly stationed at the Secretariat as of 1:30 pm today, Friday, May 1, 2026.

“This development is not only unfortunate, but undermines the principles of justice and equal opportunity in the democratic process.

“The use of security personnel in such a manner, if true, is a matter that deserves urgent scrutiny.

“We therefore call on relevant authorities and stakeholders to intervene promptly, ensure that due process is followed, and guarantee that all aspirants are given a fair and level playing field.

“Democracy must not be reduced to a game of suppression or exclusion. The integrity of the process must be protected at all costs.”

It was further gathered that two former Governors in the state have disagreed with incumbent Governor Oyebanji over return of some members of the national Assembly for second term.

Apart from Senator Opeyemi Bamidele who has the nod of the President to return, the remaining two others are expected to face other aspirants in a primary election.