Accept the People’s Will, Youth Group Tells Adelegbe After APC Primary

The Owo Redemption Youth Vanguard has called on Hon. Timilehin Adelegbe to accept the outcome of the recently concluded All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency, insisting that the same democratic procedure which produced him in the past remains valid and credible today.

The group, under the leadership of Mr. Ogunbodede Adekunle, made the appeal following the official declaration of Engr. Kayode Ijalana as winner of the APC primary election conducted by the Hon. Iboroma Harry Dabibi-led APC 2026 National Assembly Primary Election Committee.

According to the official results released by the committee, Engr. Kayode Ijalana secured a total of 7,098 votes to emerge as the party’s candidate for the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Reacting to post-election developments, the Owo Redemption Youth Vanguard urged all aggrieved aspirants, particularly the incumbent lawmaker, Hon. Timilehin Adelegbe, to embrace the spirit of sportsmanship and party unity in the interest of the APC and the overall development of the constituency.

“The same party structure, guidelines and democratic procedures that once produced Hon. Adelegbe as candidate and eventual representative of the constituency have again been used to produce another candidate.

Democracy is about continuity of process, respect for party supremacy and acceptance of the people’s will,” Mr. Ogunbodede Adekunle stated.

The group further cautioned against actions capable of creating unnecessary division within the party, emphasizing that unity remains critical as the APC prepares for the 2027 general elections.
Meanwhile, the primary election witnessed participation from several aspirants across the constituency. Hon. Ayodeji Arowele Samuel recorded 9,690 votes, but the votes were declared invalid following his disqualification by the APC Screening Committee prior to the exercise.

Other aspirants who contested include Olatayo Aribo with 896 votes, Nuel Elehinde with 248 votes, Abiola Oshodi with 181 votes, Timilehin Adelegbe with 137 votes, Gani Rotimi A. with 75 votes, Abebi Adeniseun with 73 votes, Bukunyi Olagbegi with 40 votes, and Adetula Ajibola with 39 votes, while Adeyemi Olayemi and Olalekan Olotu recorded no votes.

Declaring the outcome of the exercise, Hon. Iboroma Harry Dabibi described the primary election as peaceful, transparent and reflective of the democratic ideals of the APC. He urged all aspirants and party stakeholders to close ranks and collectively work toward strengthening the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Elections may generate varying interests, but we must never allow internal bitterness, division or rancour to weaken our progress. After this primary election, we must all unite as one strong, indivisible family, fully focused on the bigger task ahead: the 2027 general elections to deliver President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Ondo State and all our National Assembly candidates at the polls,” Dabibi stated.
Since the announcement of the results, the emergence of Engr. Kayode Ijalana has continued to generate widespread reactions across Owo and Ose Local Government Areas, with many party faithful expressing optimism about his candidacy and the future of the APC within the federal constituency.
Political observers have also described the outcome as a defining moment in the evolving political landscape of Owo/Ose Federal Constituency, noting that reconciliation, strategic mobilization and sustained grassroots engagement will play significant roles in determining the party’s strength heading into the 2027 general elections.