Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State have called on President Bola Tinubu and the party’s national leadership to urgently intervene in the conduct of the party’s direct primaries, citing alleged irregularities and growing discontent within the party.
Concerns Over Primaries Process
In an open letter addressed to the president, the group, operating under the banner of Concerned Ekiti APC Stakeholders, described aspects of the exercise as “undemocratic and unprogressive.” They warned that unresolved disputes could affect party cohesion ahead of future elections.
The stakeholders expressed particular concern over reports from several wards where, according to them, elections were either not held or outcomes were disputed. The controversy was most pronounced in Ekiti North Federal Constituency II, which covers Ido-Osi, Ilejemeje, and Moba local government areas and is currently represented in the House of Representatives by Hon. Akinlayo Davidson Kolawole.
Allegations of Non-Compliance
The stakeholders alleged that in several wards, including parts of Ido-Osi and Ilejemeje, voting did not take place despite the collation and announcement of results. They also claimed that in areas where voting was conducted, the outcome was allegedly altered during collation at the state level.
“These actions are alien to the party’s democratic values and threaten unity,” the group said in the letter signed by Coordinator Alhaji AbdulRaman Agboola and Secretary Hon. Daniel Fatoriji.
Arrests and Intimidation Alleged
The stakeholders further alleged incidents of intimidation during the primaries, including the arrest of a media aide linked to a candidate in the constituency. They claimed the arrest was connected to attempts to implicate his principal in alleged misconduct. The group urged the party leadership to investigate the circumstances surrounding the detention and the broader conduct of the primaries.
Youth Group Raises Parallel Concerns
In a separate statement, the Ekiti Network of Asiwaju Youths (ENAYo), a pro-Tinubu support group in the state, also criticized the conduct of the primaries, alleging widespread malpractice in Ekiti North II. The group claimed that party members were unable to vote in some areas due to alleged hijacking of electoral materials, while disputing the authenticity of the results declared at the collation centre.
They also alleged discrepancies between the results recorded at polling units and those announced later in Ado-Ekiti.
Call for Party Intervention
Both groups urged the APC national leadership to review the process in the affected constituency and take steps to address grievances, warning that failure to act could deepen internal divisions. While reaffirming support for President Tinubu and the APC ahead of the 2027 elections, the groups said restoring confidence in the party’s internal democratic process was critical to maintaining unity and electoral strength.
