All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirants in the forthcoming Ibadan North Federal Constituency by-election, under the aegis of ‘United Ibadan North Federal Constituency Aspirants Forum’, have rejected Mr Adewale ‘Murphy’ Olatunji as the party’s candidate.
The aspirants lamented that despite no delegate congress and primary election, Olatunji was announced as the candidate of APC in the election.
They said he did not emerge through free, fair and credible primaries.
A statement by members of the forum, which comprised Olaleye Segun, Lapade Idris, Farouk Arisekola, Adekunle Oladeji, Saheed Aderounmu, Mrs Balikis Junaid, Oluyinka Omikunle and Kalil Mustapha, objected to the purported conduct of primary election on Sunday at a designated venue, which did not hold.
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The aspirants said any purported primary election held without adherence to APC rules and procedures was illegitimate.
The forum sought intervention of the national leadership and stakeholders of the party, to allow democratic process take place in the interest of the party in next month’s by-election.
The forum claimed that APC leadership in Ibadan North Local Government also rejected the illegitimate process of the purported by-election.
“Why will Mr Olatunji be parading himself as the candidate of APC when eight of the 10 aspirants signed that no primary election was held due to anomalies that characterised the process?
“This anti-democratic posture and one man showmanship of Mr Olatunji should be noted by the National Working Committee (NWC) of our great party, APC.”
The aspirants, however, said they remained committed to the ideals of the party and the democratic process, calling for urgent intervention in the matter to correct the anomalies.