Two All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirants, Folake Olunloyo-Osinlowo and Rotimi Ajanaku, are locked in a dispute over who rightfully won the party’s primary election for the Ibadan North West/Ibadan South West Federal Constituency. The primary election, held on Saturday, saw six candidates vie for the ticket, including Kazeem Abimbola Abogun, Biodun Ikumogunniyi, Tobi Dollar, Demola Alawuje, and Taoheed Bolaji Adeleke. Despite the official results not yet being declared, both Olunloyo-Osinlowo and Ajanaku are publicly claiming victory, creating a rift within the party’s structure in the constituency.
Olunloyo-Osinlowo, the former representative of the constituency, has been actively thanking her supporters and celebrating what she describes as her win. She has also taken to her social media platforms to announce her triumph, citing results in her possession as proof of her victory. Her campaign team has been seen engaging with party members and local leaders, reinforcing her claim to the ticket. Meanwhile, Rotimi Ajanaku has also asserted his win, refusing to concede despite the lack of official confirmation from the party’s internal electoral body.
A senior APC chieftain from Ibadan North West, who spoke to DAILY POST on Sunday on condition of anonymity, confirmed the growing tension. “That is how we see it. The election was conducted on Saturday, but two people, Folake Olunloyo-Osinlowo and Rotimi Ajanaku, have been claiming to have won the election,” the source said. The chieftain expressed concern over the situation, questioning how the party would resolve the conflict over a single ticket. “You know it is one ticket, how can two people be claiming one ticket? I don’t know how the party will resolve the problem,” the source added.
As of Monday, both aspirants continue to insist they are the legitimate winners, with no official announcement from the APC’s state or national leadership. The lack of transparency in the result declaration process has fueled speculation and unrest among party members. The dispute has the potential to affect the party’s unity and campaign momentum ahead of the general elections. The APC leadership in Oyo State is expected to intervene soon to resolve the matter and present a united front.
This development underscores the challenges facing political parties in Nigeria as they navigate internal primaries. The outcome of this dispute will not only determine who represents the constituency in the next general election but also set a precedent for how future primaries are managed within the APC. The party’s national leadership may need to step in to ensure a peaceful resolution and maintain credibility.
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