From Crisis to Chaos as APC’s Ibadan North Primary Sparks Outrage While Defections Loom

The political temperature in Ibadan North is nearing boiling point as the much-anticipated APC House of Representatives bye-election primary has descended into controversy, confusion, and claims of outright hijack by influential interests. A group of leading aspirants in the race have jointly signed a communique rejecting the process, alleging that no delegate congress took place and warning the public and the party hierarchy to disregard the so-called primary result.

In a strongly worded letter dated July 20 and addressed to the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, the aggrieved aspirants expressed disappointment at what they described as a phantom primary election. They stated that the said election was conducted at a designated venue that never existed. According to them, no delegate congress was held as mandated by the party’s constitution and electoral guidelines. This, they say, renders the entire exercise illegitimate.

The communique, signed by no fewer than six aspirants including Segun Olaleye, Farouk Arisekola, Saheed Aderounmu, and Adekunle Oladeji, categorically rejects the outcome and aligns with the position of the APC leadership in Ibadan North which reportedly did not participate in or recognize the process. The aspirants are calling on the National Working Committee, the Delegates Congress Committee, and all party stakeholders to investigate and intervene before irreparable damage is done to party unity in the constituency.

But the real powder keg in the unfolding drama lies in what the aspirants are not mincing words about privately. They allege the hijack of the process by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu. Several party insiders claim that Adelabu, who recently rejoined the APC after a stint in Accord Party, is leveraging his federal position to install a preferred candidate. This act, they say, smacks of political bullying and personal interest overriding due process. Though Adelabu is yet to publicly respond to the allegations, his growing influence in Oyo APC politics appears to be reigniting the very internal wars that fractured the party in previous election cycles.

Observers say APC leaders in Oyo have now turned themselves into a mockery of the PDP. The same conduct they once condemned in the opposition is now being boldly displayed under their own roof. From imposition to secrecy, and now to open disregard for party guidelines, they seem to be walking a path they once ridiculed.

This is not the first time Oyo APC will be embroiled in controversial primaries. From the 2018 governorship contest that left aspirants bitter and divided, to the chaotic 2022 Oyo North senatorial primary that saw candidates call for outright cancellation, the party has repeatedly found itself navigating the wreckage of internal selection gone wrong. The story was the same in 2023 during the Lagelu Akinyele federal constituency contest where a stalemate led to multiple claims of victory from parallel primaries.

Now Ibadan North seems poised to follow the same pattern. Already, murmurs of defection are growing louder. Some of the aggrieved aspirants and their loyalists are considering pitching tents with the African Democratic Congress if the party fails to annul the exercise and organize a credible primary. “The party is at the edge of a cliff,” one campaign insider told RoundOyo. “If this is not handled carefully, we’re going to lose not just members but voters,” he added.

The implications are significant. Ibadan North is not just any constituency. It is a key electoral stronghold in Oyo politics. With the general elections of 2027 on the horizon, any crack within the APC in this area could have ripple effects across the state.

As it stands, the APC finds itself once again at a crossroads. Will it listen to the voices of its loyal foot soldiers crying out for internal justice. Or will it allow the interests of a few powerbrokers to override the democratic ideals it claims to uphold.

Time is ticking. So is the party’s credibility.