An aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the Oluyole Federal Constituency seat in Oyo State, Hon. Abiodun Gbolagade, has insisted that the mandate of the party belongs to him, claiming he won the primary election with 2,315 votes.

Gbolagade made the declaration on Friday while addressing journalists at a press conference in Ibadan over the lingering dispute surrounding the APC House of Representatives ticket for the constituency.

According to him, the direct primary election was conducted in line with the Electoral Act and monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, security agencies and party officials.

He alleged that he polled 2,315 votes, while the incumbent lawmaker representing Oluyole Federal Constituency, Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, secured 33 votes.

“The mandate belongs to me because the members of the APC freely voted for me. I scored 2,315 votes and the results were announced after the primary. That mandate cannot be taken away from me,” he said.

The APC chieftain explained that he accepted to contest the election after party leaders encouraged him to join the race and assist in rebuilding the party’s structure in Oluyole Federal Constituency.

He claimed to have invested substantial resources in mobilising members and strengthening the APC ahead of the primary election.

Gbolagade further disclosed that he had approached the Federal High Court to challenge what he described as attempts to overturn the outcome of the primary election.

According to him, the court recently granted an order for substituted service after efforts to personally serve one of the defendants in the suit were unsuccessful.

“I believe in the rule of law. That is why I went to court. I am confident that justice will prevail and that the mandate freely given to me by APC members will be protected,” he added.

He urged party members and supporters to remain calm and allow the court to determine the matter.

Gistlife reports that Gbolagade had earlier instituted a suit before the Federal High Court challenging the APC’s nomination process for the Oluyole Federal Constituency seat.

The APC and Akande-Sadipe had yet to officially react to Gbolagade’s claims as of the time of filing this report. The matter is still pending before the court.