The Coalition of Civil Society Groups (COCSG) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently intervene in what it described as the deepening crisis within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State.
The coalition accused the party leadership of imposing Governor Biodun Oyebanji as a “consensus candidate” ahead of the state’s forthcoming governorship election.
They argued that the move amounted to a “kangaroo selection” and a betrayal of internal democracy within the ruling party.
In a statement jointly signed by the President of COCSG, Comrade Oladimeji Olakunle Olatunji; Secretary Okpanachi Jacob; Public Relations Officer Kennedy Tabuko; and other leaders of allied organisations, the coalition urged Tinubu, as the “father of the party,” to rescue the APC from internal collapse.
The statement, made available to journalists in Abuja yesterday, demanded the reinstatement of all aspirants disqualified from the party’s screening process and described their exclusion as undemocratic.
It also called for the constitution of an independent reconciliation and review panel to restore confidence and unity within the Ekiti APC.
According to the coalition, “An imposition cannot be labelled a consensus. It is a failure of leadership. Future primaries must adhere strictly to transparency, equity, and internal democracy.”
The groups warned that allowing the alleged imposition would set a dangerous precedent that could threaten democracy nationwide.
“Beyond Ekiti, we see this as a dangerous precedent that must not be allowed to spread across other states. If internal democracy dies at the party level, then national democracy is under direct attack,” the statement read.
They cautioned the APC against “pushing Nigeria towards a one-party system,” insisting that democracy must be strengthened beyond mere rhetoric.
“As civil society, we will continue to monitor, engage, and advocate for fairness and justice in the electoral and governance processes. We will not relent until justice is done in Ekiti,” the statement added.
The coalition further warned that the APC’s internal crisis could affect the party’s chances in the 2026 general elections and undermine President Tinubu’s political standing.
“Ekiti is a politically conscious state of intelligentsia. Any attempt to subvert the people’s will can only yield resentment, division, and rejection at the polls,” the statement said.
