Stakeholders Under “Oyo APC Democratic Vanguard” Reject Alleged Imposition Plot Ahead of Senatorial Primary
...Urge Members to Vote Tomorrow
Strong tensions have continued to build within the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) following widespread allegations of attempts by powerful interests within the party to impose preferred House of Representatives and now, senatorial candidates ahead of tomorrow’s primary elections.
Across the three (3) senatorial districts of Oyo state, party stakeholders, leaders, and members have continued to express palpable outrage over what many now describe as a dangerous and deeply partisan attempt to truncate internal democracy through questionable last-minute “non-clearance” and/or disqualification claims against aspirants who had already undergone screening processes and were duly cleared to contest.
Several party faithful, under the name “Oyo APC Democratic Vanguard”, insist that what is currently unfolding is not merely an administrative gaps regarding the qualifications and certifications of said aspirants, but an orchestrated effort to narrow the democratic space and force predetermined outcomes on party members through influence, financial incentives for a few, pressure, and politically motivated manipulations.
Within party circles, there have been widespread allegations linking recent developments to the intervention of influential national figures who allegedly moved to alter previously concluded screening outcomes after visits and consultations held in Oyo State within the last few days.
One particularly fingered was the one held by the party’s National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Bashiru, three (3) days ago in Ibadan.
Many members have openly questioned why aspirants reportedly cleared through due process would suddenly become subjects of controversial “disqualification” reports barely hours before primaries.
For many APC faithful, this development represents a direct contradiction of democratic principles and the progressive ideals upon which the party was founded.
Stakeholders and members alike have expressed confidence in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s consistent projection of the APC as a party built on participation, competition, and internal democracy, not one where a select few individuals use influence or power to impose choices on the wider membership.
The controversy has been further worsened by the inconsistencies in this circulating document allegedly containing lists of “cleared” and “not cleared” aspirants.
Party members have pointed to these multiple glaring inconsistencies as another layer of evidence confirming that this attempt to truncate tomorrow’s primaries was politically motivated.
Among the errors cited by concerned stakeholders is the incorrect rendering of the name of Senator Yunus Akintunde as “Yunus Akinwande,” alongside the reported misallocation of political identities and districts, including references associating Chief Wasiu Ajimobi with Oyo North despite his known political alignment to Oyo South.
To these observers and reports within the party, such inconsistencies have only deepened suspicions that the documents were prepared in haste as part of efforts to justify outcomes that had already been predetermined by certain interests.
However, despite the tension and controversies, the Oyo APC Democratic Vanguard are passionately urging party members not to surrender the democratic process to fear, confusion, intimidation, or political manipulation.
Party leaders, semi-leaders, members, youths, women groups, ward executives, and grassroots mobilizers are strongly encouraged to still go out tomorrow and fully participate in the scheduled primary elections.
This moment, many insist, is precisely the time for genuine party members to defend the integrity of the APC by exercising their democratic rights peacefully, lawfully, and courageously.
The Oyo APC Democratic Vanguard therefore urged all members not to be discouraged by circulating reports, speculative lists, or alleged attempts at intimidation.
It said members should rather stand firmly for internal democracy by showing up tomorrow to vote for the aspirants they genuinely believe in.
“The democratic strength of any political party is tested, not when things are convenient, but when powerful interests attempt to override the will of ordinary members,” one concerned stakeholders within the group stated.
“As tomorrow’s exercise approaches, many within the APC in Oyo State believe the party now stands at a defining crossroads between democratic credibility and political imposition and/or potential implosion.
“And for countless party members, the expectation remains simple: let the people vote, let the process hold, and let the true will of party members prevail.
