Stakeholders caution against imposing candidates in the Osun APC primary.

Osun State leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have been urged to follow proper procedures when selecting the party’s senatorial candidates for the 2027 general election.

The appeal came from AbdulGafar Akintayo Amere, a senatorial aspirant for Osun West, during a meeting of APC leaders from the district in Iwo on Thursday.

Amere, who served as the representative for the Iwo/Ayedire/Ọla‑Oluwa Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives from 2011 to 2019, voiced his frustration over what he said were attempts to impose a candidate without adhering to democratic norms.

He said, “Party leaders first told the aspirants that only one nomination form would be purchased for a consensus candidate. Later, that decision was reversed, and all aspirants were instructed to obtain nomination forms after consulting the party secretary and other stakeholders.”

“We were invited to the meeting and asked to express our views on the candidate supposedly chosen by the leaders. I told them the process was unfair. Initially, they insisted that only one form would be obtained for the preferred candidate, but later they contacted us and advised everyone to purchase forms. We confirmed this directive with the party secretary and other leaders before proceeding.”

Amere added that there was no provision for a consensus arrangement and that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC had already directed that all senatorial aspirants participate in the primary election scheduled for Monday.

“Yesterday, the national leadership of our party reaffirmed that all senatorial candidates must go through the primary election. There is nothing like a consensus candidate. We will abide by the directive of the National Working Committee because it supersedes any decision taken at the state level or elsewhere,” he said.

He also noted that similar situations were reportedly occurring in other senatorial districts within the state and urged other aspirants to resist any attempt to deny them a fair contest.

Another aspirant, Peter Taiwo, also spoke at the meeting. He said the gathering was convened by APC leaders in Osun West to discuss the adoption of a preferred candidate.

According to him, “many of the aspirants rejected the proposal, insisting that the Electoral Act and party guidelines require the consent of all contestants before a consensus candidate can emerge.”

“We made it clear to the leaders that we are not satisfied with the arrangement. By law, all aspirants must willingly agree before a consensus candidate can be adopted. Once any contestant objects, the party must conduct a primary election.”

He added that since most aspirants opposed the leaders’ decision, preparations had already begun for the direct primary election scheduled for Monday, in line with the directive of the party’s National Working Committee.