Members of the All Progressives Congress in Oluyole federal constituency yesterday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, protested the outcome of the party’s primary election for the constituency, alleging that the party declared an aspirant who did not emerge as the winner.
The protesters, who stormed the APC State Secretariat on Molete-Oke Ado Road in Ibadan, accused the party leadership of imposing Hon. Tolulope Akande-Sadipe as the candidate despite the results showing that Hon. Gbolagade Abiodun won the primary and should have secured the ticket for the seat.
During the protest, many APC leaders in the local government said the party members voted overwhelmingly for Gbolagade but were shocked when Akande-Sadipe was announced the winner.
“We all came out and voted massively for Hon. Gbolagade, but lo and behold, we later heard that the name of Sadipe, who came fourth or third, was announced as the winner.”
They urged the party leadership to reverse the decision and recognise Gbolagade as the rightful winner of the primary.
“We voted for Gbolagade and no one else. “We did not vote for Sadipe,” they said.
They said the demonstration was organised to express dissatisfaction with what they described as the party leadership’s imposition of a candidate.
The protesters also questioned the authenticity of some of the results announced.
They added that Gbolagade had touched many lives, even without being elected officials or government appointees.
While responding, the APC Oyo State chairman, Otunba Moses Alake Adeyemo, stated that he has heard a lot about Hon Gbolagade, even without knowing his identity, and assured the party and the leadership that they will put in their best to resolve the political crisis.
