APC Reps Primary: Controversy as zoning row, “Yes/No” vote disrupt Akinyele/Lagelu contest

Palpable tension and administrative deadlock characterized the House of Representatives primary elections of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Akinyele/Lagelu Federal Constituency in Oyo State on Saturday, as fierce internal disputes over legitimacy and voting methods brought procedures to a standstill across several wards.

The exercise, which was intended to produce a candidate for the 2027 general elections, quickly degenerated into a standoff as party faithful and stakeholders clashed over the parameters of membership validation. In Ward 1, the situation reached a breaking point when factions accused the party hierarchy of attempting to circumvent democratic processes by enforcing a forced “yes or no” voice vote to favor the sitting lawmaker, Hon. Akinmoyede Olafisoye Wasiu, popularly known as Lafisoye.

Speaking with newsmen, a prominent party leader and former Councillor for Ward 1, Hon. Wasiu Ojo, declared that any process conducted without the validation of physical membership cards would be a “complete farce” and a recipe for post-primary crisis. He noted that it was an explicit injustice to other top-tier aspirants, including Hon. Suleiman Ahmidu (Salahudeen Ahmidu Ajibade), who had legitimately purchased nomination forms but were being sidelined by internal manipulation.

The controversy deepened at Iyana Offa Ward 10 and Monatan Ward 5, where party executives officially adopted the “Yes/No” affirmation process instead of the conventional ballot system, citing directives from the party secretariat. The move generated significant friction, with aggrieved members alleging the process was designed to lack transparency. At Ward 10, protesters questioned the absence of official vote counts, while at Ward 5, observers noted that Hon. Lafisoye personally addressed members to seek verbal affirmation, further fueling concerns over the credibility of the primary.

Beyond the voting methodology, a bitter disagreement over a historical gentleman’s agreement on rotational zoning between Akinyele and Lagelu local government areas threatened to fracture the party. Leaders, including Alhaji Ambali Adedẹniyi Sawu, affirmed that the incumbent’s bid for a second term constitutes a major breach of equity. They argued that because Lagelu currently occupies the seat, the position must return to the Akinyele axis to maintain administrative balance.

Allegations of financial inducement also trailed the exercise, with reports emerging that some participants were given 2,000 each after signing registers at various venues. While the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) representatives were present as observers, they reportedly maintained that their role was strictly to log proceedings rather than intervene in the party’s internal disputes.

Despite the high-stakes political maneuvering, the presence of a unified security contingent—comprising the Nigeria Police Force, DSS, NSCDC, and Amotekun—ensured that the tension did not boil over into physical violence.