Tensions are rising within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State as party members in Ibadan took to the streets over alleged moves to impose a governorship candidate ahead of the next election cycle.
The protest, held on Thursday in the Oyo State capital, drew aggrieved members who insist that attempts to handpick a candidate threaten internal democracy within the party. They demanded that direct primaries be used instead of a consensus arrangement.
Carrying placards with strong messages against what they described as “imposition politics,” the protesters accused some party leaders of working behind closed doors to favour selected aspirants.
At the heart of their anger is the party’s reported consideration of a consensus candidate option. The protesters argued that such a process would sideline grassroots members and weaken fairness in candidate selection.
They maintained that only direct primaries, where all registered party members can vote, would restore credibility and ensure transparency in choosing the APC governorship flag bearer in Oyo State.
Several participants at the demonstration warned that forcing a candidate on the party could deepen existing divisions within the APC in the state. They also cautioned that internal conflict could reduce the party’s competitiveness in future elections.
The aggrieved members urged the national leadership of the APC to step in and ensure that the governorship ticket is not decided through what they called backdoor arrangements, but through an open and democratic process.
They further stressed that rebuilding trust among party members and supporters would depend largely on how transparent and inclusive the primary election process becomes in Oyo State.
