Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the youth and women wings of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imeko-Afon Local Government Area of Ogun State have rejected the move by party leadership to adopt a member of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Jemili Akingbade, as the consensus candidate for the Imeko-Afon State Constituency.

Akingbade, who has represented the constituency since 2015, is seeking re-election for a fourth term.

The development follows the recent unanimous endorsement of the senator representing Ogun West, Solomon Adeola (Yayi), as the APC’s consensus governorship candidate in the state—an action that has sparked similar moves across some local governments and constituencies, generating discontent.

Rising from a stakeholders’ meeting held on Thursday at the local government party secretariat, aggrieved youths and women described the selection of Akingbade as undemocratic, divisive, and contrary to the provisions of the APC Constitution and the Electoral Act 2022.

In a communiqué issued after the meeting, the groups categorically opposed what they described as “backdoor arrangements” that produced Akingbade and demanded a credible primary election in which all aspirants would be allowed to contest.

They argued that the “purported consensus candidate” had not formally engaged relevant party structures before being imposed on the constituency, warning that democracy cannot thrive where imposition prevails.

While reaffirming their loyalty to the APC, the youths and women appealed to party leadership at both the state and national levels to uphold democratic principles and allow the will of party members and the electorate to prevail.

The communiqué partly read: “We strongly reject any attempt to impose Hon. Jemili Akingbade as a ‘consensus candidate’ for the Imeko-Afon State Constituency seat ahead of the 2027 House of Assembly elections. Such imposition is undemocratic, divisive, and contrary to both the APC Constitution and the Electoral Act 2022.”

“We insist on a free, fair, and credible primary election in which all aspirants are given a level playing field. The strength and legitimacy of our democracy depend on the credibility of its processes and outcomes.”

“We call on the party leadership at the state and national levels to uphold democratic principles and allow the will of party members and the electorate to prevail. Imeko-Afon deserves a candidate who is tested, trusted, and rooted in the grassroots—one who emerges through popular support, not imposition.”

“We firmly oppose any backdoor arrangements that seek to undermine the collective will of party members. We note that several competent aspirants have formally declared their intentions and enjoy widespread grassroots support. The purported ‘consensus candidate’ has not formally engaged with relevant party structures.”

“We urge all stakeholders to work towards a united APC in Imeko-Afon, anchored on equity, justice, and due process. We also emphasise the need for meaningful inclusion of youth and women in all decision-making and candidate selection processes.”

The stakeholders maintained that the future of the Imeko-Afon Constituency is too important to be decided without the active participation of its people.

“We stand firmly for transparency, fairness, and the power of the ballot over backroom decisions,” they concluded.

Signatories to the communiqué include Hon. Ibrahim Muhydeen Atanda, Comrade Fayomi Yunus, Comrade Dende Atanda Akesaipon, Comrade Yusuf Toheeb, Ayoola Monsurat, Afolabi Sukurat, Ogunbiyi Nafisat, Comrade Waliu Fadipe, Ajaba Morufat, and Hon. Surakatu Saheed. (The Guardian)

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