‘It Is Not This Way’ – Adelabu Alleges Irregularities In Oyo APC Primary

Former Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu, has raised concerns over how the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election was conducted in Oyo state.

Naija News reports that Adelabu while addressing journalists said the voting in Ward 9, Ibadan South-East Local Government Area, where he participated, was peaceful and orderly.

He also noted that he received strong backing from party members in his ward, where a large number of registered voters were said to have supported him.

However, he alleged that the situation was different in many other wards across Oyo State. According to him, there were reports of intimidation, disorder and manipulation of the process in several locations.

He claimed that in some wards, voting was carried out before the officially scheduled time, while in others, party members were allegedly stopped from taking part in the election. He also said there were claims that results were recorded in places where voting did not take place.

Adelabu further expressed concern that some party officials were working with certain aspirants to push preferred candidates, despite earlier arrangements meant to allow all aspirants to compete freely. He maintained that all cleared aspirants should have been given equal opportunity during the exercise.

He added that petitions would be submitted over the issues recorded in different parts of the state, covering zones such as Ibadan, Oke-Ogun, Ogbomosho, Ibarapa and Oyo.

He also warned against attempts to impose candidates through what he described as manipulated outcomes, while expressing hope that the process would be reviewed fairly at the end.

He said: “I must sound this note of warning that it is not this way in a lot of other wards. Reports reaching me state that there are a lot of gross misconducts in the other wards, ranging from various forms of infractions. In some wards, they conducted the election hours before the appointed time and wrote the figures they liked.”