By Patrick Wemambu
Member representing Moba/Ilejemeje/Ido Osi Federal Constituency in the 10th House of Representatives, Hon. Kolawole Akinlayo, has called on the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to strictly uphold the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, in determining the outcome of the party’s primary election for Ekiti North Federal Constituency II.
He made the call while addressing journalists in Abuja on Sunday, following his earlier petition to the party’s National Chairman and the National Assembly Appeal Committee challenging the outcome of the May 16 primary election.
Insisting that the declared winner, Mr. Kunle Ibrahim, was constitutionally ineligible to participate in the contest – the lawmaker argued that adherence to the Electoral Act was critical to preserving the integrity of the APC’s internal democratic process.
He maintained that the law must take precedence over political considerations, warning that any failure to enforce the provisions of the Electoral Act could undermine confidence in the party’s candidate selection process.
According to Akinlayo, the aspirant declared winner of the primary election, was not qualified to contest because he remained a political appointee at the time of the exercise.
He alleged that Ibrahim was serving as a Special Assistant in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and continued to receive salary up to May 2026, after the conduct of the primary election.
Akinlayo argued that Ibrahim’s participation violated Section 88(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which provides that:
“A political appointee at any level shall not be a voting delegate or be voted for during party conventions, congresses or primaries of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election.
“The purported winner is not qualified to participate in the primary election by virtue of Section 88(1) and his participation, in the eyes of the law, is a nullity ab initio,” he argued.
Based on the alleged breaches witnessed in the election, the lawmaker urged the APC leadership to invoke the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act by disqualifying Ibrahim and declaring him the valid winner of the primary, having reportedly placed second in the contest.
