Crisis Hits Oyo APC Over Ibadan North Bye-Election

*6 aspirants reject allege imposition of candidate for election

*Give 48hrs ultimatum to party for candidate substitution

By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan

Crisis is now brewing in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State over the August 16 bye election in Ibadan North Federal Constituency area of the state.

At a press conference held at the Oyo State NUJ Press Centre, Iyaganku in Ibadan, the aspirants namely, Honourable Olusegun Olaleye, Saheed Aderounmu, Adekunle Oladeji, Oluyinka Omikunle, Lapade Idris and Khalil Mustapha Repete rejected an alleged imposition of a candidate for APC in the bye election.

Addressing the press conference, the six aspirants under the auspices of United Ibadan North Federal Constituency Aspirants Forum described the alleged imposition of a candidate for the election by the party as ” a clear disregard for democratic principles and the rule of law”.

Speaking through their spokesperson, Hon Saheed Aderounmu, the aspirants called on President Bola Tinubu and the APC National Working Committee (NWC) to urgently intervene in the matter

” We reject imposition in politics and believe that all candidates should be given a fair chance, just like President Bola Ahmed Tinubu subjected himself to party primaries. If there’s a crisis in the party and APC fails to win, the blame should go to Adebayo Adelabu and the National Working Committee under the former Chairman, Ali Bukar Dalori”, he said.

The spokesperson added, “We, the aspirants, stands united against the alleged imposition of Adewale Olatunji as the candidate for the forthcoming bye election in Ibadan North Federal Constituency. This act is a disregard for democratic principles and the rule of law.

“The National Working Committee (NWC), under the leadership of former acting Chairman Ali Bukar Dalori and the Minister of Power, has caused crisis in Oyo state by allegedly imposing Adewale Olatunji Murphy without a primary election in line with relevant laws and party guidelines”.

He noted, “This alleged imposition is unacceptable and undermines the party’s credibility. We have elected Hon Khalil Mustapha Repete as our consensus candidate through a unanimous process and believe he is the best candidate to represent the people of Ibadan North Federal Constituency”

The United Ibadan North Federal Constituency Aspirants Forum stated ” The people of Ibadan North Federal Constituency deserve a fair and transparent process. We are confident that Hon Khalil Mustapha Repete is the best candidate to represent them.

” We give the national leadership 48 hours to intervene and resolve this matter. If not, consequences should be placed squarely on the NWC, Minister Adelabu and relevant state stakeholders.We pray for truthful, inclusive and harmonious reconciliation to save our party.

” We reiterate our commitment to democrat principles and the rule if law. We believe that the APC should as a party that upholds the values of democracy fairness and transparency.We urge the party to do the right thing and allow democracy to take it’s course.”

The six aspirants emphasized that the Minister for Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu and former acting chairman of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, Bukar Dalori should be blame in case the party losses the election to People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

“We don’t have any personal issue against Adelabu and Dalori, but we are against an electoral process that is full of irregularities. We are not a rebel, but we believe that the democratic tenet must be followed.”