Hundreds of protesters from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State staged a peaceful protest yesterday over alleged plans by some party leaders to impose candidates through what they described as a "shadow primary election" ahead of the 2027 elections.
The protesters, who also accused the leaders of withholding their APC membership cards after the completion of the registration process, insisted that they would not accept any candidate imposed on them to contest elective positions under the party's platform in the next election. They vehemently disagreed with the leaders' alleged move to impose preferred candidates ahead of the party's primaries for the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, and Senatorial District in Ogun Central.
The APC members, who stormed the party's secretariat in Ijaye with placards bearing inscriptions such as "We don't want imposition," "Give us our membership cards," and "Let us vote for our candidates," accused some of the leaders of trying to hijack the party's democratic process.
Speaking on behalf of the members, Babatunde Azeez Adenekan alleged that certain party leaders were planning to impose candidates and intentionally withheld their APC membership cards from them ahead of the primary elections. Adenekan stated that the membership card is the sole officially accepted form of identification for voting during the primaries and that withholding the cards was a deliberate strategy aimed at influencing the process in favor of certain aspirants.
"The refusal to release membership cards to loyal party members is a dangerous signal. It is a clear strategy to rig the primary election and silence the voices of genuine APC members," he said.
Addressing newsmen at the party's secretariat, a party chieftain, Olanrewaju Olutunji, claimed that many members were increasingly worried that some individuals were secretly making efforts to impose favored candidates to contest elective positions under the party's platform. He, however, expressed confidence in the leadership of Governor Dapo Abiodun, noting that he has consistently demonstrated a willingness to listen to the people's concerns.
"We know Governor Dapo Abiodun as a democrat and a man who respects the will of the masses. That is why we are appealing to him not to allow a few leaders to destroy the integrity of the APC primary process in Ogun Central," he stated.
Olutunji also claimed that several members at the ward levels had faced threats and intimidation for voicing against the imposition of candidates over alleged "shadow elections," stressing that certain individuals openly threatened to attack anyone resisting the proposed arrangement.
The protesters vowed to challenge any effort to erode internal democracy within the All Progressives Congress, noting that the party's constitution explicitly calls for a credible primary election whenever aspirants are unable to reach a consensus agreement.
However, the State Publicity Secretary of APC, Olufemi Nuberu, while responding to the allegations, dismissed claims that members were being prevented from accessing their membership cards. Nuberu stated that duly registered members could print their cards online and noted that ward officials had been designated to help members complete the process.
