Oyo APC Aspirants Petition Tinubu Over Primaries Rigging

Oyo State APC governorship aspirants have formally petitioned President Bola Tinubu regarding alleged rigging in the House of Representatives primaries conducted on May 16. The aspirants, including former Deputy Governor Rauf Olaniyan, Musbau Asanik, Akeem Agbaj, Ololade Bakar, and Oyedel Alao, held a press briefing at the Nigeria Union of Journalists press center in Ibadan.

They claimed that the primaries were marred by intimidation and the arbitrary disqualification of candidates, with results allegedly announced despite no elections taking place in some constituencies. The group expressed dissatisfaction with the process, describing it as lacking democratic legitimacy and warned that continued disregard for internal democracy could deepen divisions within the party, jeopardizing its chances in the 2027 elections.

They called for the APC national working committee to review the primaries and embrace reconciliation to prevent further divisions. Moje Alabi, chairman of the primaries election committee, stated that the exercise was conducted peacefully and orderly.