In the lead-up to the 2027 general elections, the youth and women wings of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imeko-Afon Local Government Area of Ogun State have rejected the party leadership's decision to select Hon. Jemili Akingbade, a member of the state House of Assembly, as the consensus candidate for the Imeko-Afon State Constituency. Akingbade, who has served in the legislature since 2015, is seeking a fourth term.
This development follows the recent unanimous endorsement of Senator Solomon Adeola Yayi as the APC consensus governorship candidate for Ogun West. Similar actions in other local governments and state constituencies have sparked widespread discontent.
During a stakeholders' meeting held yesterday at the Local Government Party Secretariat, the aggrieved youth and women described the selection of the lawmaker as undemocratic, divisive, and contrary to the provisions of the APC Constitution and the Electoral Act. In a communique issued after the meeting, they categorically opposed the backdoor arrangements that produced Akingbade and demanded a credible primary election where all aspirants can compete.
The stakeholders argued that the so-called consensus candidate had not formally engaged with relevant party structures before being imposed on the constituency. They emphasized that democracy cannot thrive where imposition prevails. While reaffirming their loyalty to the APC, they appealed to the party leadership at state and national levels to uphold democratic principles and allow the will of party members and the electorate to prevail.
The communique partly read: “We strongly reject any attempt to impose Hon. Jemili Akingbade as a ‘consensus candidate’ for the Imeko-Afon State Constituency seat ahead of the 2027 House of Assembly elections. Such imposition is undemocratic, divisive, and contrary to both the APC Constitution and Electoral Act 2022.”
It continued: “We insist on a free, fair and credible primary election in which all aspirants are given a level playing field. The strength and legitimacy of our democracy depend on the credibility of its processes and outcomes.”
“We call on the party leadership at the state and national levels to uphold democratic principles and allow the will of party members and the electorate to prevail. Imeko-Afon deserves a candidate who is tested, trusted, and rooted in the grassroots – one who emerges through popular support, not imposition.”
“We firmly oppose any backdoor arrangements that seek to undermine the collective will of party members. We note that several competent aspirants have formally declared their intentions and enjoy widespread grassroots support. The purported ‘consensus candidate’ has not formally engaged with relevant party structures.”
“We urge all stakeholders to work towards a united APC in Imeko-Afon, anchored on equity, justice and due process. We also emphasise the need for meaningful inclusion of youth and women in all decision-making and candidate selection processes.”
The stakeholders maintained that the future of Imeko-Afon Constituency is too important to be decided without the active participation of its people. “We stand firmly for transparency, fairness, and the power of the ballot over backroom decisions,” they concluded.
Endorsers of the document included Hon. Ibrahim Muhydeen Atanda, Comrade Fayomi Yunus, Comrade Dende Atanda Akesaipon, Comrade Yusuf Toheeb, Ayoola Monsurat, Afolabi Sukurat, Ogunbiyi Nafisat, Comrade Waliu Fadipe, Ajaba Morufat, and Hon. Surakatu Saheed.
