Supporters and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oluyole Local Government Area of Oyo State on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest at the party’s state secretariat in Oke-Ado, Ibadan, demanding that the party recognise Abiodun Gbolagade as the authentic winner of the primary election for the Oluyole Federal Constituency.
The protest came barely 24 hours after the Oyo APC insisted that there would be no alteration to the list of National Assembly candidates already submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), a development that has intensified the internal dispute over the constituency’s House of Representatives ticket.
Addressing party members during the demonstration, Gbolagade maintained that he emerged victorious in the primary election and urged the leadership of the party to uphold what he described as the officially declared result.
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According to him, he secured more than 2,000 votes during the exercise, while the incumbent member representing Oluyole Federal Constituency, Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, received only 36 votes.
“I want to urge the party leadership to strictly adhere to the results as announced, as this would strengthen unity and improve the APC’s chances in the 2027 general elections in the state,” he said.
Gbolagade also said he had consistently financed party activities in Oluyole Local Government over the past seven years, insisting that his contributions and electoral victory deserved recognition.
Several protesters echoed the same position, calling on the state leadership to issue the party’s House of Representatives ticket to Gbolagade.
Retired civil servant Awo Adeleke insisted that the primary election produced Gbolagade as the winner and appealed to the party leadership not to ignore the outcome.
Another protester, who requested anonymity, accused the incumbent lawmaker of abandoning party members during her time in office.
“For the past eight years, Sadipe has neglected us, party members. That is why we have pitched our tents with Gbolagade, who we believe can ensure victory for the party,” she said.
Responding to the demonstrators, Oyo APC Chairman, Moses Adeyemo, appealed for calm and assured party faithful that the leadership would examine their grievances.
Adeyemo described Gbolagade as a committed member who had “paid his dues” to the party over the years and promised that the issues raised would be reviewed to ensure peace, fairness and unity within the APC.
The protest followed a statement issued on Monday by the Oyo APC Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, dismissing reports that the party had amended its National Assembly candidates’ list.
Sadare said the names submitted to INEC originated from the APC National Working Committee after processing the results of the primaries conducted in May and maintained that the nomination process had been completed.
He accused some unsuccessful aspirants of spreading false information capable of creating unnecessary tension within the party.
“For the avoidance of doubt, nothing has changed from what was made public last week,” Sadare said.
He reaffirmed Tolulope Akande-Sadipe as the APC candidate for the Oluyole Federal Constituency alongside other candidates earlier announced for the state’s National Assembly seats.
The latest disagreement highlights lingering post-primary tensions within the Oyo APC as preparations for the 2027 general elections continue, with dissatisfied stakeholders still pressing the party leadership to review the Oluyole primary outcome.
