The G5 Governorship Aspirants under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Oyo State have rejected the conduct of the direct primary election for House of Representatives Aspirants of the party held on Saturday, calling for its review.
The Aspirants, who include a Former Deputy Governor of the State, Engr Rauf Olaniyan; Engr Hakeem Alao; Prince Musbau Asanike; Barrister Akeem Agbaje; and Dr Usman Bakare, made their position known in a communique issued and read to newsmen at a press conference held at the NUJ Press Center, Iyaganku, Ibadan, Oyo State.
The Aspirants maintained that they are for peace and Unity of the Party, hence the leadership of the Party should ensure fairness, equity and justice of all members.
“We condemn in the strongest terms the incidents in Oke Ogun, Ibarapa, and Oyo Zones, where no election took place,yet results were manufactured and announced in favour of predetermined candidates. This fraudulent practice constitutes a blatant violation of the Electoral Act, the APC Constitution, and the principles of democratic accountability. It is an affront to the intelligence and dignity of party members.”
“We affirm that we are not opposed to transparent consensus primary. On the contrary, consensus remains our preferred option because it provides the most credible path for the emergence of the best candidate. It is a mechanism that reflects the collective will of party members when properly conducted. Whatever Asiwaju Bola Tinubu says is binding as National leader. As loyal members of the APC, we hold that the voice of our leader and President is final in matters of party direction. Whoever he picks, after due consultation and consideration with leaders and stakeholders across the state, will be our resolve. We will abide by it without reservation.”
The G5 APC Governorship Aspirants urged the party leadership in Oyo State to immediately cease all actions and utterances that deepen division, calling on them to embrace genuine reconciliation grounded in justice, equity, and respect for the will of the majority.
They further reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to the APC and its ideals, adding that, they would not remain silent while the party was driven toward avoidable defeat by undemocratic practices and the erosion of internal democracy.