A senatorial aspirant for Ekiti North Senatorial District, Otunba Oluwadare Owolabi, has called for the cancellation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election held on Monday, May 18, 2026, citing widespread irregularities, violence, and lack of transparency during the exercise. The primary, conducted across Ikole, Oye, Moba, Ilejemeje, and Ido-Osi local government areas of Ekiti State, has drawn serious criticism from Owolabi, who insists the process failed to meet basic democratic standards.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the event, Owolabi condemned the conduct of the election, stating that there was no proper accreditation of voters and that votes were not counted in a transparent manner. “What happened yesterday cannot be described as a free and fair election,” he declared, emphasizing that the entire process lacked credibility. He pointed out that officials deployed to supervise the election were government employees, raising concerns about the neutrality and impartiality of the exercise.
Owolabi further alleged that organizers deliberately disrupted polling venues, leading to chaos and panic among party members and supporters. “People ran for their lives because the venue became chaotic. I consider what happened an act of terrorism against democracy,” he said, underscoring the severity of the situation. The aspirant rejected the official results, claiming they did not reflect the actual votes cast by his supporters.
According to Owolabi, while the official result credited him with approximately 2,800 votes, reports from his ground teams indicated he received about 4,341 votes. “The result announced yesterday was not correct. The votes attributed to me were far below what my supporters confirmed,” he insisted. He argued that the discrepancy between the reported and actual figures was evidence of vote manipulation and systemic flaws in the primary process.
In light of these allegations, Owolabi is demanding the immediate cancellation of the primary election and the conduct of a fresh exercise under a transparent, credible, and impartial framework. He stressed that any future primary must be free from government interference and ensure fair representation for all candidates.
The controversy has sparked debate within the APC and among political observers in Ekiti State, raising questions about the party’s internal democracy and electoral integrity. As the party leadership reviews the situation, the outcome of this dispute could influence the broader political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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