Governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State have called on the party’s national leadership to intervene urgently over what they describe as a lack of transparency and credibility in the conduct of the direct primaries scheduled for May 21, 2027.
In a communique issued on May 20, 2026, the aspirants said they were concerned about the absence of clear guidelines and details of supervising officials less than 24 hours to the exercise.
“We express grave concern over the absence of clear guidelines on how the direct primaries will be regulated. Less than 24 hours to the exercise, members remain uninformed on the modalities that should guide participation and oversight,” the statement read.
The aspirants said the silence had created anxiety among party members across the state’s 33 local government areas and weakened confidence in the process. They warned that holding the primaries without openness and accountability would undermine the credibility of the outcome and leave room for post-primary litigation and fragmentation.
Risk of manipulation and monetisation
The aspirants also warned of the risk of manipulation and monetisation of the exercise.
“The absence of structure and clarity makes the process prone to deliberate manipulation and maneuvering. Party members are already apprehensive that the vacuum will be exploited to subvert the will of the people,” they said.
They alleged that some aspirants were prepared to exploit the situation by “buying support with big cheque books,” and said such a trend would compromise merit and grassroots legitimacy.
“When money becomes the sole determinant of candidacy, the party risks fielding unpopular candidates who lack grassroots legitimacy,” the communique stated.
The aspirants called for the adoption of a consensus arrangement, similar to what was used in other states during recent APC primaries to reduce acrimony and present a united front
“We believe this approach will reduce acrimony and present a stronger front for the party in Oyo State. Consensus allows for wider consultation and ensures that all blocs within the party feel carried along,” they said.
The aspirants urged President Bola Tinubu and the APC national leadership to act swiftly, saying the stability of the party in Oyo State depended on a process that all stakeholders could trust.
“We remain committed to the ideals of the APC and to ensuring that Oyo State presents a credible candidate for the 2027 governorship election. The unity of the party in Oyo State is too important to be left to chance,” they concluded.
