Ekiti Youth Demand Transparent APC Primaries For 2027 Polls

A coalition of youth groups in Ekiti State has called on Governor Biodun Oyebanji and leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to uphold internal democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The groups urged the party to conduct free and fair primary elections in selecting candidates for National Assembly positions.

Speaking in a joint statement issued in Ado Ekiti on Monday, the leader of the People’s Movement, David Adegboyega, and the coordinator of the Ekiti North Progressive Youth Alliance, Tayelolu Ajayi, emphasised the need for transparency and inclusiveness.

They called on the APC leadership to adopt direct primaries, ensure broad participation, and maintain a clear separation between traditional institutions and partisan politics.

The coalition stressed that credible candidate selection processes would be critical to the party’s success in the 2027 elections.

Adegboyega specifically advocated proper primaries for the emergence of the House of Representatives candidate for Ekiti Central Federal Constituency I.

He also called for full representation of stakeholders across communities in Ado and Irepodun/Ifelodun local government areas in determining the party’s candidate.

The youth leader warned traditional rulers in the constituency against endorsing any aspirant, insisting that monarchs must remain apolitical and preserve the integrity of traditional institutions.

The coalition’s stance follows allegations that some political actors were pressuring a royal father to endorse an underperforming lawmaker.

Ajayi, on his part, called for equity in the selection of the senatorial candidate for Ekiti North, advocating that Ikole Local Government Area be given the opportunity to produce the next senator, noting it has not held the position since 1999.