APC Faces Internal Rift as Ibadan North Aspirants Reject Alleged Candidate Imposition

Tensions have erupted within the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the August 16 by-election for the Ibadan North Federal Constituency, as aspirants under the party have openly rejected what they describe as the imposition of Adewale Olatunji as the party’s candidate.

At a press conference held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) secretariat in Iyaganku, Ibadan, on Monday, members of the United Ibadan North Federal Constituency Aspirants Forum accused the party’s national leadership of violating democratic norms by bypassing an agreed internal consensus process.

Reading a jointly adopted eight-paragraph communiqué on behalf of the group, Saheed Aderounmu declared that the aspirants had unanimously elected Khali Mustapha as their consensus candidate and would not accept any attempt to override that decision.

“The imposition of Adewale Olatunji is a blatant violation of democratic principles and party guidelines,” Aderounmu said. “We demand that the party leadership withdraw his name within 48 hours and recognize Mustapha as the authentic choice of the people of Ibadan North.”

The group warned that failure to reverse the decision could lead to internal disunity and electoral fallout. “If the National Working Committee (NWC) and other stakeholders fail to act swiftly, the consequences will lie squarely at their feet,” the communiqué stated.

The controversy stems from the upcoming by-election triggered by the death of the sitting federal lawmaker, Musiliudeen Akinremi, popularly known as Jagaban, in July 2024. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled August 16 as the official date for filling the vacant seat.

The aggrieved aspirants argue that Olatunji’s emergence lacked the legitimacy of a proper party primary, contradicting both the APC’s internal rules and provisions of the 2023 Electoral Act (as amended), which allows for candidate substitution in the event of disputes.

They are calling for immediate intervention from the National Working Committee, the Presidency, and other key figures within the APC to uphold the integrity of the nomination process and restore confidence in the party’s commitment to fairness.

“The people of Ibadan North deserve a transparent and credible process,” Aderounmu said. “Imposing a candidate not chosen by the people is not only unacceptable — it is politically dangerous.”

As the by-election date draws closer, the APC now faces a test of internal cohesion and its ability to manage candidate selection in a politically sensitive environment.