Ekiti APC Boils: Olawunmi Alleges Pre-Written Primaries for Oyebanji, Threatens Defection

The internal crisis rocking the Ekiti State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, intensified on Wednesday as a governorship aspirant, Abimbola Olawunmi, accused the party of stage-managing its governorship primaries to hand the ticket to incumbent Governor Biodun Oyebanji.

Speaking on ARISE News, Olawunmi alleged that the National Working Committee, NWC, deliberately disqualified her and other aspirants, including Kayode Ojo, to clear the way for the governor to emerge as consensus candidate.

She described the process as “pre-arranged, unfair and politically scripted” even before aspirants purchased forms, accusing the party leadership of commercialising the exercise while “already reserving the ticket for one person.”

“The NWC, led by Professor Nentawe, has been intimidating aspirants through unjust disqualification. The National Secretary was already travelling around the country declaring Oyebanji the consensus candidate, yet they still sold forms to us,” she said.

Olawunmi said she participated in the screening in Abuja on September 24 before being informed via social media — not officially — that she had been disqualified based on a petition alleging that her nominators were not party members and that she failed to fulfil some financial obligations to the party.

She faulted the party for failing to communicate the decision formally despite several letters she addressed to the APC National Chairman, the NWC, the President and the First Lady.

“The silence is deliberate. It is a calculated attempt to frustrate my ambition and violate my rights as a member of this party,” she added.

Olawunmi vowed to pursue legal action, insisting that the APC had no legal or moral right to disqualify her without hearing from her.

“If the constituted authority continues to be unjust after the court process, then I will be forced to take a decision on my membership,” she warned.

She further insisted that Ekiti residents were dissatisfied with the present administration and would not return Oyebanji to office at the polls.

According to her, “Ekiti people have made up their minds. They will reject him at the ballot. You cannot impose a governor on a people who are already tired of his administration.”

Olawunmi maintained she remains a member of the APC for now but insisted she “will not be intimidated or silenced” as she pushes ahead with her legal challenge.