By Lanre Oloyede
Fresh pressure has mounted on the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to investigate the conduct of its House of Representatives primary for Ekiti North Federal Constituency II, following allegations that a presidential aide failed to comply with President Bola Tinubu’s directive on resignation for political appointees seeking elective office.
Stakeholders within the party petitioned the APC National Working Committee (NWC), alleging that Hon. Ibrahim Olanrewaju, Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, remained a serving political appointee when he contested the primary election. They pointed to President Tinubu’s directive that all political appointees interested in contesting the 2027 general elections resign on or before March 31, 2026.
The petitioners claimed Olanrewaju continued to receive salaries after the deadline despite publicly announcing his resignation, citing documentary evidence including a verified May 2026 salary payslip. They argued that this contravenes Section 88(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which prohibits political appointees from voting or being voted for during party primaries. They also referenced the Supreme Court’s decision in Tukur v. Mustapha as judicial backing for mandatory resignation before seeking elective office.
Beyond eligibility concerns, the petition raised questions about the credibility of the primary itself. Stakeholders alleged that delegate accreditation was not conducted in any ward in Ilejemeje LGA, while voting figures in some areas exceeded the number of accredited delegates. In Ipere Ward, they claimed that despite having only 357 registered delegates, another aspirant was credited with 782 votes, which they described as evidence of vote inflation. They further alleged that delegates loyal to rival aspirants were prevented from voting in parts of Ido/Osi LGA, including Ayetoro Wards 1 and 2, Usi Ward, and Otun Wards 1 and 2, due to intimidation and disruption by government agents.
The petition also questioned the impartiality of the process, alleging that APC local government chairmen and council chairmen were appointed as returning officers, thereby compromising neutrality. According to the stakeholders, numerous video recordings exist showing irregularities, and they insisted that no actual primary election took place, with results allegedly written in Olanrewaju’s favour.
The group said it had submitted documentary and video evidence to support its claims and urged the APC NWC to thoroughly investigate, review all materials, and determine whether the primary complied with the Electoral Act, the APC Constitution, and party guidelines. They warned that failure to address the allegations could undermine confidence in the party’s internal democracy and negatively affect its prospects in the 2027 general elections.
As of now, Hon. Ibrahim Olanrewaju has not publicly responded to the allegations, and the APC has yet to issue an official statement.
