The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Oyo State took another dimension on Monday when some aspirants under the platform of the party rejected the party’s choice for the forthcoming bye-election in Ibadan North Federal Constituency.
DAILY POST reports that the election is billed to take place on Saturday, 16th August 2025.
The bye-election became necessary following the death of the last occupant of the seat, Hon Musliudeen Olaide Akinremi.
Akinremi who was elected for the second term died in July last year. He was a member of APC.
DAILY POST recalls the party had few days ago, declared that it has picked Adewale Olatunji as its candidate for the bye-election.
Some of the aspirants under the party have however rejected the nomination of Olatunji.
The aspirants while speaking at a press conference on Monday in Ibadan, the state capital, gave the party’s national secretariat 48 hours to resolve the matter or face the consequences.
The aspirants under the platform of United Ibadan North Federal Constituency Aspirants Forum, while speaking at the press briefing held at Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, Secretariat, Iyayanku in Ibadan, insisted that Olatunji is not the party’s candidate.
Spokesman of the group, Saheed Aderounmu, described Olatunji’s nomination as a gross violation of democratic principles and the rule of law.
He submitted that any attempt to insist on Olatunji as the party’s candidate in the bye-election would be counter productive.
Aderounmu, while speaking further, called on the National Working Committee, NWC, the Presidency and other relevant stakeholders to intervene in the matter.
He added that the alleged imposition of Olatunji without a primary election is not in line with the relevant laws of the APC.
Describing the alleged imposition as unacceptable, he said, “We the aspirants, stand against the imposition of Adewale Olatunji as the candidate for the forthcoming by-election in Ibadan North Federal Constituency. This act is a clear disregard for democratic principles and the rule of law. The people of Ibadan North deserve better. They deserve a fair and transparent process that respects their voice.
“We give the national leadership 48 hours to intervene and resolve this matter, if not, consequences should be placed squarely on the NWC and relevant stakeholders.”
