A group of All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirants in Oyo State have rejected the reported selection of Adewale Olatunji Murphy as the party’s candidate for the upcoming Ibadan North Federal Constituency by-election, accusing the party’s leadership of imposition and threatening consequences if the decision is not reversed.
Speaking under the banner of the United Ibadan North Federal Constituency Aspirants Forum, six aspirants Olusegun Olaleye, Saheed Aderounmu, Adekunle Oladeji, Oluyinka Omikunle, Idris Lapade, and Khalil Mustapha Repete voiced their grievances during a press briefing in Ibadan. They demanded that the party revoke Murphy’s candidacy within 48 hours, warning of internal resistance and voter apathy during the August 16 poll.
The aspirants decried the absence of a transparent primary process, claiming the decision was a breach of internal democracy and party guidelines. Saheed Aderounmu accused the APC’s National Working Committee of bypassing due process to endorse what he described as an unpopular candidate.
The group also alleged that the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, was involved in the imposition and urged him to publicly dissociate himself from the controversy to safeguard his reputation and the party’s cohesion in the state.
Declaring Khalil Mustapha Repete as their consensus candidate, the forum said his emergence was the result of broad consultation with grassroots stakeholders. They called on the party to draw inspiration from President Bola Tinubu’s democratic nomination process and ensure fairness and transparency in the selection of its flagbearer.
While pledging their continued loyalty to the APC, the aspirants insisted that electoral victory depends on openness, justice, and respect for the will of party members.
