The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo, has declared that nothing will hinder the party from conducting free, fair, and credible direct primaries to select its candidates among the numerous aspirants vying for party tickets ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Assurance of Fair Treatment
The former deputy governor made this statement on Monday while receiving the Screening and Appeal Committee members deployed from the APC National Secretariat in Abuja at his office in the Oke-Ado Party Secretariat. He emphasized that every effort would be made to ensure all aspirants are treated fairly, in line with the principles of progressivism and constitutional democracy.
Consensus and Direct Primary Options
“We set machinery in motion to achieve consensus across the board, but reports available to me indicate that we would have to go by the second option—direct primary—in certain cases, including the governorship ticket,” Adeyemo explained. “To this end, we shall work towards organizing a free, fair, and credible exercise in all affected areas, even as we cannot rule out the possibility of some aspirants having a rethink and supporting the consensus arrangement as necessary.”
He further elaborated: “Where we have more than one aspirant, Abuja will send people to conduct primaries, and we at the state level will provide the required support to make everything work in the interest of our great party. Whether through consensus or direct primaries, every registered party member will be involved. They will gather at their respective wards on the date picked by the National Secretariat for the primary as it affects each elective position. For consensus, members will lend their voices for affirmation, while voting will take place in cases of direct primary.”
Screening Committee’s Role
In his address, the chairman of the Screening Committee, a former Speaker in the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Taofiq AbdusSalam, assured that his committee would carry out a thorough job to ensure that only eligible aspirants are cleared to participate in the primary and fly the APC ticket as the party’s House of Assembly candidates in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state.
Committee Members
The Screening Committee includes: Kamal Sanusi (Secretary), Smart Oluwole, Tunde Kolade, and Olabamiji Agunloye. The Screening Appeal Committee comprises: Jibola Oduwole (Chairman), Abimbola Jack (Secretary), and Jelil Jimoh.
Chief Adeyemo reiterated the party’s commitment to democratic processes, ensuring that all aspirants have a level playing field and that the will of the people prevails in the selection of candidates for the 2027 elections.
