Oyo APC Leaders Demand Direct Primaries to Prevent Potential Electoral Defeat in 2027

Stakeholders in Ibadan demand direct primaries to avoid candidate imposition and ensure APC victory in the 2027 elections. Primary keyword: Direct Primaries.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 8, 2026, 8:46 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Nation

The Push for Grassroots Participation

Stakeholders representing the Ibadan Northwest/Southwest Federal Constituency have formally requested that the All Progressives Congress leadership implement direct primaries for all upcoming elective positions. During a press conference at the NUJ Press Centre in Iyaganku on Tuesday, the group, operating under the name Apex leaders, emphasized that an open, participatory process is necessary to maintain a level playing field. Chief Wale Ohu, a prominent party chieftain, stated that involving the broader membership in the selection process is the most effective way to foster inclusiveness and strengthen the party’s internal cohesion before the next major electoral cycle.

Legislative Framework and Party Alignment

The group cited the Electoral Act of 2026 as the legal basis for their demand, noting that the law provides for candidates to emerge through either direct primaries or a consensus among aspirants. According to the stakeholders, a consensus arrangement is only viable if it is reached by the actual leaders and stakeholders of the local government areas involved. Without such a genuine agreement, the group warns that any attempt to select candidates through other means would constitute an imposition. The leaders expressed a firm belief that adherence to the principles of constitutional democracy is the only way to protect the interests of the party and its aspiring representatives.

Historical Lessons from Previous Losses

The petitioning leaders highlighted a recurring pattern of electoral failure which they attribute directly to the practice of imposing candidates against the will of the membership. According to the group, the party suffered significant defeats in both the 2019 and 2023 elections because unpopular candidates were selected through non-transparent processes. Specifically, they noted that the APC candidate, Hon. Saheed Fijabi, was defeated twice by the Peoples’ Democratic Party representative, Hon. Dhikrulahi Stanley Olajide. The stakeholders argue that these losses serve as a critical warning that the electorate will reject candidates who enter through what they described as the back door.