Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the youth and women wings of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imeko-Afon Local Government Area of Ogun State have rejected the decision of the party leadership to pick a member of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Jemili Akingbade, as the consensus candidate for the Imeko-Afon State Constituency.
Hon. Akingbade, who has been a member of the state legislature since 2015, is seeking re-election for a fourth term in office.
Following the recent unanimous endorsement of Senator representing Ogun West, Solomon Adeola Yayi, as the APC consensus governorship candidate in the state, similar actions have been carried out in some local governments and state constituencies which has generated uproar.
Rising from a stakeholders’ meeting yesterday at the Local Government Party Secretariat, the aggrieved youths and women described the selection of the lawmaker as undemocratic, divisive and contrary to the provisions of the APC Constitution and Electoral Act.
In a communique issued after their meeting, the youth and women categorically opposed the backdoor arrangements that produced Hon. Akingbade and demanded credible primary election in which all aspirants are allowed to contest.
They argued that the “purported consensus candidate” had not formally engaged with relevant party structures before he was foisted on the constituency.
According to the stakeholders, democracy cannot thrive where imposition prevails.
The youth and women, who reaffirmed their loyalty to the APC, appealed to the party leadership at the state and national levels to uphold democratic principles and allow the will of party members as well as the electorate to prevail.
The communique partly read, “We strongly reject any attempt to impose Hon. Jemili Akingbade as a ‘consensus candidate’ for the Imeko-Afon State Constituency seat ahead of the 2027 House of Assembly elections. Such imposition is undemocratic, divisive, and contrary to both the APC Constitution and Electoral Act 2022.”
“We insist on a free, fair and credible primary election in which all aspirants are given a level playing field. The strength and legitimacy of our democracy depend on the credibility of its processes and outcomes.”
“We call on the party leadership at the state and national levels to uphold democratic principles and allow the will of party members and the electorate to prevail. Imeko-Afon deserves a candidate who is tested, trusted, and rooted in the grassroots –one who emerges through popular support, not imposition.”
“We firmly oppose any backdoor arrangements that seek to undermine the collective will of party members. We note that several competent aspirants have formally declared their intentions and enjoy widespread grassroots support. The purported ‘consensus candidate’ has not formally engaged with relevant party structures.”
“We urge all stakeholders to work towards a united APC in Imeko-Afon, anchored on equity, justice and due process. We also emphasise the need for meaningful inclusion of youth and women in all decision-making and candidate selection processes.”
The stakeholders maintained that the future of Imeko-Afon Constituency is too important to be decided without active participation of its people.
“We stand firmly for transparency, fairness, and the power of the ballot over backroom decisions,” they concluded.
Those who endorsed the document included Hon. Ibrahim Muhydeen Atanda, Comrade Fayomi Yunus, Comrade Dende Atanda Akesaipon, Comrade Yusuf Toheeb, Ayoola Monsurat, Afolabi Sukurat, Ogunbiyi Nafisat, Comrade Waliu Fadipe, Ajaba Morufat and Hon. Surakatu Saheed.
