SOME stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State have called on Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to reverse the party’s choice of candidate for the Ekiti/Irepodun/Isin/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency ahead of the 2027 general elections, alleging that the decision ignored the outcome of the party’s primary election.
In an open letter addressed to the governor and made available to Hope in Ilorin on Thursday, the party leaders claimed that the candidate announced by the party did not emerge as the winner of the APC primary conducted across the state on May 16, 2026.
The stakeholders also argued that retaining the current candidate would further entrench what they described as decades of political imbalance in the constituency, where, according to them, representation in the House of Representatives has consistently remained within the Igbomina axis of Irepodun and Isin local government areas, to the exclusion of the Ekiti bloc comprising Ekiti and Oke-Ero LGAs.
The letter, titled “A Passionate Appeal to Reconsider the APC Choice of Candidacy for Ekiti/Irepodun/Isin/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency for the 2027 General Elections,” was signed by the APC Chairman in Ekiti LGA, Elder Ajibola Ayoola; APC Chairman in Oke-Ero LGA, Hon. James Kayode Bamidele; Chairman of Ekiti Local Government Council, Hon. Awelewa Olawale; Oke-Ero party leader, Barrister Kayode Towoju; and APC chieftain, Sir O.J. Adeseko.
Attached to the petition was a copy of the primary election results, which the stakeholders said showed that Abolarin Ganiyu secured 17,128 votes to emerge winner, while the incumbent lawmaker, Raheem Tunji Olawuyi (Ajuloopin) polled 2,978 votes.
They expressed surprise that Olawuyi, whom they claimed finished sixth in the contest, was subsequently announced as the party’s candidate instead of Abolarin, who allegedly topped the poll.
The petitioners further argued that the constituency has lacked equitable representation since the return to democratic rule in 1999.
According to them, Hon. Bashir Bola Oni (1999–2003), Hon. Peter Gbenga Makanjuola (2003–2011), Hon. Akeem Olayinka Hakeem (2011–2015), the late Hon. Olufunke Adedoyin (2015–2018), and the incumbent Hon. Raheem Tunji Olawuyi (2018 to date) all hailed from either Irepodun or Isin LGAs.
They noted that Irepodun LGA alone has produced the federal lawmaker for about 26 years, while Omu-Aran, with only three of the constituency’s 42 wards, has occupied the seat for nearly 24 years.
“It is sad that no individual from either Ekiti or Oke-Ero Local Government Areas has ever represented the federal constituency despite the fact that the two councils account for 20 of the 42 wards,” the stakeholders said.
Describing the outcome as inconsistent with the principles of fairness and internal democracy, they added: “It is therefore ironical that the person who scored the lowest votes and came sixth during the primary is now the acclaimed winner.”
They appealed to Governor AbdulRazaq to intervene by engaging the national leadership of the APC to review the decision and, in the interest of equity and justice, award the party’s ticket to Abolarin, whom they described as the authentic winner of the primary election.
Sources told The Hope that if the reversal is left undone, it would mean that Irepodun LGA would produce both the Council Chairman and the House of Representatives candidates of the APC for the forthcoming elections.
