The internal crisis rocking the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has intensified following widespread outrage over the conduct of the House of Representatives primary elections.
Tensions boiled over in the Oluyole Federal Constituency on Sunday as party leaders openly rejected an alleged parallel primary election, warning that a failure to uphold the authentic results could trigger another electoral disaster for the party.
The controversy stems from Saturday’s primary election, which grassroots members insisted must be conducted via a direct voting system rather than a rumored consensus arrangement.
Six aspirants competed for the Oluyole ticket, with the official results from the designated voting centers heavily favoring Gbolagade Abiodun, who secured a landslide victory: with 2315 votes.
Addressing a press conference on Sunday, Oluyole APC leaders accused the incumbent lawmaker, Hon. Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, of boycotting the official venues to hold a “parallel primary” inside the private residences of her supporters.
The apex leader of the party in Oluyole, Hon. Sir Lekan Adeyemo, stated that only the election held at statutory venues—duly witnessed and signed off by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies, should be recognized by the national leadership.
“We held an election yesterday without any rancor or disturbance whatsoever. “The outcome was won by Hon. Gbolagade Abiodun. It was established that Hon. Tolulope Akande-Sadipe held a parallel primary, not on the field but in the houses of her supporters. It is surprising that some people are declaring themselves winners.” Adeyemo declared.
Echoing this stance, Hon. Aderniyi Adesokan, former Chairman of Akorede Local Council Development Area (LCDA), confirmed that the authentic results have been forwarded to the party’s national secretariat. He warned that any attempt to subvert the will of the majority would be challenged in court.
Hon. James Adeleke, a former Chairman of Oluyole Local Government, while emphasizing that they will not accept imposition.appealed to President Bola Tinubu—whom he described as a product and champion of free, fair primaries—to intervene.
“Our problem in Oyo State is that we don’t have a leader. Consensus can’t be possible; a governorship aspirant cannot be our leader. “We don’t want to be in a mess for another four years.” Adeleke declared.
Other notable leaders at the briefing included Adeoye Dauda Kolawole, Hon. Orelope Kolawole, Hon. Abioye Femi, Alhaji Waheed Akinleye and Oluyole APC Secretary, Alhaji Mumini Oriade and all the ward chairmen of the party in Oluyole Local Government area.
