Crisis in Oyo APC: Party Aspirants Reject Candidate Imposition, Demand Tinubu’s Intervention

Tensions have surged within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State after a group of party aspirants accused Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, of imposing Adewale Olatunji as the party’s candidate for the Ibadan North Federal Constituency by-election scheduled for August 16, 2025. The group—operating under the United Ibadan North Federal Constituency Aspirants Forum—publicly called on President Bola Tinubu and the APC National Working Committee (NWC) to intervene and halt what they described as an unlawful process.

At a press conference held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists Secretariat in Ibadan, the forum’s spokesperson, Waheed Aderounmu, chastised the party’s leadership over their alleged role in supporting Minister Adelabu’s candidate, thereby sidelining their preferred aspirant, Khalil Mustapha Repete, who they say was selected through a consensus. The group insists that no primary election was held, violating party guidelines and internal democracy standards.

“We are disappointed by the conduct of the party officers. The process was manipulated, and our executives are not interested in justice or fairness. We demand the NWC acts within 48 hours to provide redress, or the blame for any electoral loss should rest squarely with Minister Adelabu and party leaders,” Aderounmu asserted.

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The controversy has deeply fractured the local APC as several parallel claims of victory have emerged from the botched primaries, with multiple aspirants, including Olaleye and Farouk Arisekola Alao, staking claim to the candidacy. Critics say powerful party blocs and conflicting delegate lists have thrown the process into confusion, exposing deep-rooted divisions within the party’s ranks. Some leaders have warned that failure to resolve these internal crises could cost APC the seat against the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Minister Adelabu has previously denied any plan to impose candidates, publicly promising transparent primaries both for the current by-election and his own anticipated 2027 governorship bid. However, aspirants remain unconvinced, citing similar issues that had caused Adelabu’s temporary defection from the party in 2023.

Security has been heightened in the Ibadan North constituency to prevent unrest, while party elders and peace advocates work behind the scenes to salvage unity. As the August 16 poll looms, calls for President Tinubu’s direct intervention have grown more urgent, with stakeholders warning that the episode risks “turning into one of the party’s most embarrassing internal feuds in recent memory”.

The United Ibadan North Federal Constituency Aspirants Forum has made clear: unless the imposition is reversed and due process followed, future losses in Oyo will be blamed on those responsible for undermining party democracy and cohesion.