APC Stakeholders In Ibadan Northwest/ Southwest Constituency Warn Against Candidate Imposition

Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ibadan Northwest/Southwest Federal Constituency have warned against imposition of a candidate in the 2027 election.

The members made the call at a news conference organised by the constituency Apex Leaders Council in conjunction with the aspirants and other party stakeholders on Tuesday in Ibadan.

APC chieftain in the constituency, Chief Wale Ohu, said that the party always suffered humiliating defeats whenever candidates were imposed.

Ohu said that the party’s stakeholders in the constituency were not preempting or suspecting any negative move from the party leaders, but were only trying to caution against any decision that could jeopardise the party’s efforts in the next election.

“The Electoral Act of 2026 (as amended) stipulates that aspirants jostling for elective offices in the 2027 general elections should emerge as candidates through direct primaries or consensus within the party.

“However, in as much as we subscribe to this position, we, the leaders of both local governments, believe imposition in any form without the consensus arrangement by the leaders and stakeholders may spell doom.

“Such a move will not be in our interest for unpopular candidates to take undue advantage to enter through the back door,” he said.

Ohu cited past impositions within the constituency which led to recurring failures of APC at the polls in 2019 and 2023 respectively.

He noted that the members, during the elections, went to the poll divided, which led to a monumental failure for their party in the election.

“In those election cycles referenced, the imposed candidate, Hon. Saheed Fijabi of the APC, was flatly defeated twice by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Hon. Dhikrulahi Olajide.

“We should also take a cue from what happened during the bye-election conducted to fill the vacant seat of Ibadan North Federal Constituency, where a candidate was imposed on the party members.

“Consequent upon these harrowing experiences, critical stakeholders within the constituency have deemed it imperative to alert the National Headquarters of our great party to avert impending doom by not imposing candidates on the party for the forthcoming elections,” he said.

Also, another party chieftain, Chief Lowo Obisesan, urged the party to adhere strictly to the principles of constitutional democracy by conducting direct primaries in which all party members shall participate without any hindrance.

He added that giving all aspirants equal chances through direct primaries would be a sure way through which the party could avert bitterness, acrimony, and bad blood among the members, including possible protest votes.

“Our paramount interest is the general elections of 2027, and we are committed to the victory of President Bola Tinubu, in particular, and other APC candidates in general.

“We are resolute in our stand to ensure that principles of transparency and fairness are adhered to in the interest of our party, and that every member and aspiring member is provided a level playing ground in the interest of justice, equity, fairness, and good conscience,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of other aspirants, Dr. Olanrewaju Fasola urged leaders of the party in the constituency to create a platform for all aspirants to present their manifestoes so that people would choose the right person that would give them effective representation.(NAN)