By Gbenga Salami
A House of Representatives candidate for Ibadan Northeast/Southeast Federal Constituency, Oyo State, on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the just concluded party primaries, Hon. Ishaq Morufat Ajibola, has called on the party to recognise her as the duly elected candidate.
The call was contained in a petition dated 13th July, 2026, addressed to the State APC Chairman and copied to the APC National Chairman, the National Secretary, and the National Women Leader.
The petition was titled, “Petition and Demand for the Issuance of My INEC Candidate Nomination Form Following My Victory at the APC House of Representatives, National Assembly Primary Election Held on 16th May, 2026.”
The petition reads in part: “I write this petition with utmost respect as a loyal and committed member of our great Party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), to bring to your attention an issue of grave concern which, if not urgently addressed, may occasion serious injustice to me and undermine the credibility of the Party’s internal democratic process.
“I was a duly screened and qualified aspirant who contested in the APC House of Representatives, National Assembly Primary Election conducted on 16th May, 2026, for the office of Honourable Member representing Ibadan Northeast/Southeast Federal Constituency of Oyo State.
“The primary election was conducted by the duly constituted Electoral Committee of the Party in accordance with the Constitution of the APC, the Party’s Guidelines for the Conduct of the Primary Election, and other extant rules governing the nomination of candidates.
“At the conclusion of the primary election, the results were duly collated and announced by the appropriate officials of the Party, and I was declared the winner of the primary election, having emerged victorious in Ibadan Northeast Local Government Area and equally declared the winner in Ibadan Southeast Local Council Development Area following the conduct of the primary election.”
She, however, lamented that despite her lawful emergence as the successful candidate, she had not been issued the relevant INEC nomination form or any other document necessary to facilitate her nomination as the party’s candidate for the forthcoming general election.
Hon. Ajibola added: “It is noteworthy that several weeks have elapsed since the conduct and declaration of the results of the primary election, yet no satisfactory explanation has been given for the failure to issue me the necessary nomination documents, while I understand that other successful candidates have been accorded the necessary recognition.
“The continued withholding of my nomination form is not only prejudicial to my rights as the duly elected candidate of the Party but also capable of frustrating the mandate freely given to me by Party members during the primary election.
“I respectfully state that I have remained loyal to the Party and have refrained from taking any action capable of embarrassing or bringing the Party into disrepute. I therefore consider it appropriate to first seek an amicable resolution through this petition before considering any other lawful step available to me.”
The APC aspirant therefore demanded: “That the Party immediately confirms my status as the duly elected APC candidate arising from the primary election conducted on 16th May, 2026.
“That I am issued, without further delay, with all relevant INEC nomination forms and other nomination documents required for the processing and submission of my candidature.
“That any administrative or procedural impediment responsible for the delay be urgently addressed in the interest of justice, equity, and the integrity of the Party.
“I sincerely believe that the leadership of our great Party remains committed to fairness, internal democracy, and respect for the wishes of Party members as expressed through duly conducted primary elections.
“Accordingly, I respectfully urge your office to give this petition urgent attention and to ensure that this matter is resolved within seven (7) days from the date of receipt of this petition to avoid irreparable prejudice to my candidature.
