The adoption of consensus candidates for elective positions in 2027 general election has stirred controversy in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State.
The main stakeholders of the party in Ibadan South-West and North-West, at a press conference on Tuesday, awarded a level playing ground for all the aspirants, rather than adopting consensus mode of selecting candidates.
The party will be featuring 51 candidates for elective posts at the state and national levels in the 2027 general election.
In order to ensure the success of the party, the affected constituents warned against the adoption of consensus candidates.
The leadership of the party, in a letter signed by 35 constituents from the local government areas, argued that APC has all that it takes to win all the elective posts in Oyo, only if it takes to the advice of members.
The letter read: “The Electoral Act of 2026 (as amended) stipulates that the aspirants jostling for the elective offices should emerge as candidates through ‘Direct primaries or consensus within the aspirants’.
However, inasmuch as we subscribe to this position, we, the leaders of both local governments, believe imposition in any form without the consensus arrangement by the leaders and stakeholders may spell doom as it will not be in our interest for unpopular candidates to take undue advantages to enter through back door.
“In retrospect, the party has always suffered humiliating defeats whenever candidates were imposed. Good references were our recurring failures at the polls in 2019 and 2023, respectively. In those election cycles referenced, the imposed candidate, Honourable Saheed Fijabi of the APC,was defeated twice by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Honourable Dhikrulahi Stanley Olajide.
We should also take a cue from what happened during the bye-election conducted to fill the vacant seat of Ibadan North Federal constituency, where a candidate was imposed on the party members.
“The members went to the poll divided and this led to a monumental failure for our party.
“Consequent upon these experiences, the critical stakeholders within the constituency have deemed it imperative to alert the national headquarters of our party to avert the impending doom of imposing candidates on the party for the 2027 general election.
Rather, the party should adhere to the principles of constitutional democracy by conducting “direct primaries” in which all members shall participate.
‘This is the only way through which the party can avert bitterness and acrimony among the members, including possible protest votes.
In other words, the party leaders and generality of members cherish openness, transparency, probity and accountability.
“Our paramount interest is the general election of 2027 and we are committed to the victory of President Bola Tinubu, in particular and other APC candidates. So, we are resolute and firm on ourstand to ensure that principles of transparency and fairness are adhered to in the interest of our party and that every member and aspiring members are provided level playing ground in the interest of justice, equity and fairness.”
Cc: Nigerian Tribune