The aspirants made the appeal while also demanding free, fair and credible primaries, warning that alleged imposition and manipulation of candidates could undermine the party’s electoral fortunes in Oyo State.

Five governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the party’s National Working Committee to intervene in the dispute surrounding the House of Representatives primary elections conducted in the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The aspirants made the appeal while also demanding free, fair and credible primaries, warning that alleged imposition and manipulation of candidates could undermine the party’s electoral fortunes in Oyo State.

Their position was contained in a communique read during a press briefing held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan.

The aspirants include former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Rauf Olaniyan, Musbau Asanike, Akeem Agbaje, Ololade Bakare and Oyedele Alao.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Oyedele Alao alleged that the House of Representatives primaries conducted on Saturday, May 16, were marred by intimidation, disenfranchisement of party members, arbitrary disqualification of aspirants and alleged fabrication of results in some constituencies.

He further claimed that in parts of Oke-Ogun, Ibarapa and Oyo zones, results were announced in areas where elections were allegedly not held.

Alao said, “We unequivocally reject the conduct of direct primaries that compromise the majority will of the people.”

He added that such processes had historically led to imposition, alienation and electoral losses for the APC in Oyo State.

He also stressed that the credibility of any electoral process was as important as its outcome, noting that a flawed process could not produce a legitimate result.

The aspirants maintained that members of the party across several constituencies had expressed dissatisfaction over what they described as sidelining of loyal members and imposition of candidates.

They warned that continued disregard for internal democracy could deepen divisions within the party and negatively affect its chances in the 2027 elections.

While expressing support for a consensus arrangement, they insisted that such a process must be based on broad consultation with stakeholders and reflect the collective interest of party members.

The group reaffirmed its loyalty to President Tinubu, stating that they would abide by any decision reached after proper consultation with party leaders and stakeholders in the state.

They said, “As loyal members of the APC, we hold that the voice of our leader and President is final in matters of party direction.”

They added that whoever the President supports, after due consultation, would be accepted by members of the group.

The aspirants also called on the APC National Working Committee to review all petitions arising from the House of Representatives primaries, including allegations of illegal disqualifications and manipulated results.

They urged the Oyo State APC leadership to embrace reconciliation, justice and fairness to prevent further internal division within the party.

They warned that failure to address the grievances could put the party at risk of avoidable defeat in the 2027 general elections.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Primaries Elections Committee, Mojeed Alabi, a former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, described the exercise as peaceful and orderly across the state.

He said the committee’s role was to supervise, collate results and forward its report to the national leadership of the party for final approval.

Alabi explained that the primaries were conducted simultaneously across wards within each federal constituency in line with the party’s guidelines.

He maintained that the committee’s duty was to ensure proper collation and transmission of results, stressing that the national leadership retained the final authority to declare outcomes.

He also reiterated the committee’s commitment to transparency, fairness and due process within the limits of available logistics.

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