Internal Friction Erupts in Kwara APC as Elders Allege Systematic Imposition During Local Congresses

Elders in Kwara State's Ekiti LGA allege candidate imposition in recent APC congresses. Read the full response from State Chairman Sunday Fagbemi.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 19, 2026, 4:35 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from The Nation Newspaper

A Fractured Consensus in Ekiti Local Government

A group of elders and prominent leaders within the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State has voiced significant concerns regarding the integrity of the All Progressives Congress (APC) internal democratic processes. Speaking through their spokesperson, Dele Abiodun, the group alleged that the recently concluded council and ward congresses were marred by widespread irregularities and the forced imposition of officials. According to Abiodun, these actions have undermined the unity of the party, as the emergence of the council executives reportedly deviated from the affirmation-based guidelines mandated by the APC national headquarters.

Allegations of Unconstitutional Executive Replacements

The dissenting leaders have specifically targeted the removal of established executive members, arguing that such actions violate the party’s standing constitution. Abiodun alleged that several officials were illegally ousted and replaced by "unknown persons" without the prerequisite disciplinary grounds required for such a transition. According to the elders, this manipulation of the executive roster serves to weaken the party’s grassroots structure. The group is now demanding a formal investigation into these documented irregularities and the immediate reinstatement of any members who were removed through unconstitutional means.

A Counter-Narrative of Political Opportunism

In a swift rebuttal, the Kwara State APC Chairman, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, dismissed the elders' claims as entirely baseless and motivated by ulterior political interests. Fagbemi, who notably shares the same local government origin as the protesters, suggested that the critics lack the legal standing to challenge the congress outcomes since they were not active participants in the exercise. According to the Chairman, those leading the protest are suspected of "hobnobbing" with the coalition African Democratic Congress (ADC), implying that the allegations are an attempt to destabilize the APC from within on behalf of the opposition.