APC Reps aspirants reject ‘unity list’, seek review of selection process
APC Reps aspirants reject ‘unity list’, seek review of selection process
A coalition of All Progressives Congress aspirants for the House of Representatives in Oyo State has called on the party’s national leadership to review its candidate-selection process for the 2027 elections.
The aspirants, under the aegis of the Coalition of Concerned APC House of Representatives Aspirants in Oyo State, alleged that the process did not provide them with the transparent and competitive primaries they expected, claiming that candidates were instead selected through what they described as a “unity list”.
The coalition made its position known in a communiqué titled, “On the Conduct of the Party Candidate Selection Process and the Imperative of Genuine Reconciliation Ahead of the 2027 General Elections”, according to a statement made available to PUNCH Online on Monday.
The group said it remained loyal to the APC and President Bola Tinubu but argued that the party needed to address the grievances arising from the candidate-selection process to ensure unity ahead of the elections.
“The aspirants said they participated in the process with the expectation that credible, transparent and competitive primaries would be conducted in line with the APC constitution and guidelines,” the statement read.
They, however, alleged that the process did not allow aspirants and party members to exercise their democratic rights, with names instead selected and presented through a “unity list”.
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While acknowledging the role of party leaders in promoting consensus and cohesion, the coalition said genuine unity could not be achieved through exclusion.
It argued that any consensus arrangement should be based on consultation, mutual consent and fairness rather than imposed without adequate engagement with aspirants who had invested resources and built political structures in their constituencies.
The group consequently urged the APC national leadership to review the process, hear the concerns of affected aspirants and establish a mechanism for reconciliation.
The development comes after the Oyo APC unveiled its 14 House of Representatives candidates for the 2027 elections in September.
According to the statement, the list includes Akeem Adeyemi for Afijio/Atiba/Oyo East/Oyo West, Wasiu Akinmoyede for Akinyele/Lagelu, Tajudeen Kareem for Atisbo/Saki East/Saki West and Akinola Alabi for Egbeda/Ona-Ara, among others.
The coalition said the affected aspirants had also contributed to the party’s grassroots mobilisation through empowerment programmes, educational support, healthcare interventions, youth and women development initiatives, agricultural assistance and community projects.
It added that the aspirants had invested personal resources in membership mobilisation, ward organisation and voter engagement, while building relationships with community, religious, professional, youth and women groups.
The group therefore urged the party to recognise the contributions and grassroots structures of the aspirants and integrate them into its campaign plans for 2027.
The coalition also requested the establishment of a high-level reconciliation committee comprising respected national and state party leaders acceptable to all sides.
It further urged the APC to ensure that where consensus was considered necessary, it was achieved through transparent engagement and the voluntary agreement of the aspirants concerned.
Despite its grievances, the coalition said it was not threatening to leave the APC.
“We remain within the APC and are prepared to work for its victory,” the group stated
They insisted that party unity should be based on justice, consultation, mutual respect and reconciliation.
The aspirants also appealed to their supporters across Oyo State to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding while the matter was addressed through the appropriate party channels.
The communiqué was signed by nine members of the coalition, including Tunde Bello, Sanusi Ridwan, Ibrahim Lasisi, Saheed Oladele, Bakare Nurudeen, Ganiyat Olawore, Idowu Adesokan, Ishaq Morufat Ajibola and Nureni Adesina Abd Salam.
