Leaders and principal stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Orelope LGA of Oyo State have formally petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), declaring that no valid primary election was conducted in the area on Saturday, 16th May, 2026.
In a petition obtained by 𝗜𝗧𝗩 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 jointly signed by the APC Chairman, APC Secretary, Women Leader, and Youth Leader of Orelope Local Government, the party leaders insisted that what was described as a primary election did not take place in any of the ten wards in the council area.
The petition, addressed to the INEC Returning Officer in Orelope, stated categorically: “No valid primary election was conducted in any of the ten (10) wards constituting Orelope Local Government during the purported APC primary election scheduled for Saturday, 16th May, 2026.”
The stakeholders maintained that their position was based on direct observation and not hearsay, adding that they were physically present across the local government area throughout the supposed exercise.
According to them, “There was no accreditation of delegates, no voting exercise, no collation of results, and no lawful declaration of outcome at any approved venue within Orelope Local Government.”
They further claimed that security operatives deployed for the exercise also confirmed that no election activity took place.
“Security agencies, including officers of the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant security operatives deployed within the local government on the said date, can sufficiently attest to the fact that no primary election was conducted anywhere within Orelope Local Government,” the petition read.
The party leaders warned against recognition of any aspirant claiming victory from what they described as a non-existent process, stressing that such claims were illegitimate and without procedural backing.
“Any claim by any aspirant or individual purporting to have emerged victorious from an election that did not hold within Orelope Local Government should be disregarded, as such claim lacks procedural legitimacy and does not represent the democratic participation or consent of party stakeholders,” they stated.
The stakeholders urged INEC to take urgent cognisance of their complaint and safeguard the integrity of the electoral process in line with the Electoral Act and internal party guidelines.
They added: “We respectfully urge the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure that the integrity of the democratic and electoral process is protected in line with the Electoral Act, party guidelines, and principles of internal party democracy.”
Copies of the petition were also sent to the APC State Chairman and Secretary in Oyo State, the national leadership of the party, as well as the Commissioner of Police and the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Oyo State.
𝗜𝗧𝗩 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 had earlier reported that, Olatubosun, an indigene of Igbeti in Olorunsogo LGA, secured the APC ticket after the conclusion of the party’s selection process, with supporters describing his emergence as a reflection of confidence in his political experience and grassroots influence.
The development has created uncertainty within the constituency, as the earlier announcement of Olatubosun’s candidacy now appears to be at variance with claims from local party executives in OOrelope.
As at press time, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has not issued any official response to the petition, while the APC leadership at state and national levels is yet to clarify the conflicting accounts surrounding the conduct of the primary.