Oyo North Not for Imposition, APC Group Declares in Support of Dr. Gbenga Adegbola
The crisis surrounding the senatorial primary of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo North intensified on Sunday as a group, Oyo North APC Concerned Indigenes Demanding Justice, accused some party stakeholders of attempting to impose a candidate against the wishes of party members.
In a statement issued on May 24, the group insisted that Dr. Gbenga Adegbola emerged victorious in the Oyo North senatorial primary and should be recognised as the authentic candidate of the party for the district.
The statement, jointly signed by former Minority Leader of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Ajekiigbe David Akinwale Bada, and National Chairman of Egbe Ajosepo Fun Itesiwaju Gbogbo Wa, Engr. Olaifa Dauda Alade, warned against any alleged attempt to substitute Adegbola’s name.
According to the group, while candidates had emerged peacefully in Oyo South and Oyo Central Senatorial Districts, the situation in Oyo North had allegedly been complicated by “anti-democratic forces” seeking to influence the outcome of the exercise.
The group specifically alleged that individuals loyal to prominent APC chieftain, Zaccheus Adedeji, were working to overturn the outcome of the primary.
“We state clearly and without equivocation that Dr. Gbenga Adegbola won the Oyo North senatorial primary fair and square. His victory is the authentic expression of the will of our party members and the people of Oyo North,” the statement partly read.
The group called on the APC National Headquarters and the party’s National Working Committee to resist any alleged move to substitute the candidate, insisting that justice and fairness must prevail.
It also appealed to the Presidency to intervene and ensure adherence to democratic principles within the party.
“The same President who has repeatedly called for free, fair, and transparent primaries cannot have his own party subverting the process in his home zone by proxy,” the statement added.
The group further urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognise only the candidate it described as the legitimate winner of the primary.
Warning of possible political consequences, the group said the APC risked losing Oyo North in the general election if the alleged injustice was not addressed promptly.
Efforts to obtain reactions from the APC leadership and other parties mentioned in the statement were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
