Fresh crisis has engulfed the All Progressives Congress in Osun State following allegations of manipulation, delegate exclusion, intimidation, and candidate imposition during the party’s House of Representatives primary election in Ife Federal Constituency.
The disputed primary, held on Saturday, May 16, has sparked outrage among aspirants and party stakeholders, who accused influential figures within the party of hijacking the process and undermining internal democracy.
Aggrieved aspirants alleged that the credibility of the exercise was compromised by desperate political interests allegedly operating under the influence of Osun APC Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, popularly known as “Sooko.”
According to accounts from several wards and local government areas within the constituency, many recognised party members and accredited delegates were allegedly prevented from participating in the exercise despite assurances that the process would be transparent, inclusive, and democratic.
The dissatisfied aspirants described the primary as a “scam,” claiming that figures and results were arbitrarily allocated to preferred candidates even before voting concluded in some areas.
They further alleged that the exercise was marred by intimidation, violence, and acts of thuggery, developments they said have widened divisions within the party and raised concerns over the future of internal democracy in the Osun APC.
“The entire process was manipulated from the beginning. Genuine delegates were sidelined while party leaders imposed their preferred outcome,” one of the aggrieved stakeholders alleged.
The controversy is the latest indication of deepening internal tensions within the Osun APC ahead of future electoral contests, as rival factions continue to battle for control of the party’s structure in the state.
Political observers say the latest dispute could further weaken the opposition party in Osun, where it has struggled to regain political stability following its defeat in the 2022 governorship election.
The allegations have also revived memories of the controversial APC primary election conducted in the constituency on May 27, 2022, which similarly generated accusations of irregularities, manipulation, and exclusion among party members.
Several stakeholders claimed that the same pattern of political interference and delegate suppression witnessed during the 2022 exercise resurfaced during Saturday’s primary.
The aggrieved aspirants maintained that the disputed outcome has yet to receive official recognition from the national leadership of the APC, noting that petitions and formal complaints have already been submitted to the party’s national secretariat.
They also argued that the legitimacy of the process remains uncertain because the Independent National Electoral Commission has yet to validate the conduct of the primary.
The development has heightened anxiety among party loyalists in the constituency, with fears that unresolved grievances could trigger defections, parallel party structures, or prolonged legal battles capable of weakening the APC ahead of future elections.
Analysts say the growing disputes within the Osun APC reflect broader internal struggles confronting major political parties across Nigeria, where allegations of candidate imposition, delegate manipulation, and lack of transparency have continued to threaten party cohesion and democratic processes.
In recent years, party primaries across the country have increasingly become flashpoints for litigation and internal rebellion, with dissatisfied aspirants often challenging outcomes in court or defecting to rival political platforms.
Observers believe the unfolding crisis in Ife Federal Constituency represents another major test of the APC leadership’s ability to manage internal disputes and restore confidence among party members in Osun State.
As of the time of filing this report, the Osun APC leadership had yet to officially respond to the allegations surrounding the conduct of the primary election.
