Protest Erupts in Oyo APC Over Alleged Candidate Substitution.
By Adewale Owoade.
Some members of the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ward 12, Ibadan South West Local Government Area, staged a protest over the alleged substitution of the name of Hon. Rotimi Ajanaku.
Ajanaku contested in the APC primary election for the Ibadan South West/North West Federal Constituency held on Saturday, May 16.
The protesters, who gathered in large numbers, claimed that Ajanaku emerged winner of the primary election but that another name later surfaced as the party’s candidate.
They called on the national and state leadership of the APC to immediately recognise and officially announce Ajanaku as the party’s candidate for the constituency ahead of the forthcoming general election.
Addressing journalists during the protest, a House of Assembly aspirant, Hon. Adepoju Popoola, appealed to APC leaders in Abuja and Oyo State to urgently intervene in the matter to prevent further discontent among party members.
According to him, Ajanaku enjoys widespread acceptance among party members and residents of the constituency because of his consistency, accessibility, and contributions to the area.
“Hon. Rotimi Ajanaku was declared winner after the primary election, only for another name to emerge afterward. That is why we are calling on the party leadership to correct the situation,” he said.
Popoola added that the protesters were agitating to protect the party’s chances in the general election.
“We do not want APC to lose the election. This is an opportunity for the party to reclaim the constituency, and the wishes of party members must be respected,” he added.
Also speaking, Engr. Balogun Moyosoreoluwa urged the party leadership to carefully examine the complaints raised by members in Ward 12.
He noted that the ward had historically played a major role in determining electoral outcomes in both state and federal elections, including governorship contests, and should not be ignored in critical party decisions.
The protesters further urged the APC leadership to uphold fairness, transparency, and internal democracy by recognising Ajanaku as the duly elected candidate, warning that failure to address the issue could affect party unity and mobilisation efforts ahead of the general election.
Reacting to the protest, the APC Public Secretary in Oyo State, Olawale Sadare, said the party was not aware of any substitution.
He, however, advised aggrieved members to channel their complaints to the party’s appeal committee, which was established to receive grievances and make appropriate recommendations to the national leadership.