A faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Ekiti/Irepodun/Isin/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency of Kwara State has rejected the reported nomination of Ms Florence Oyeyemi as the party's candidate for the 2027 House of Representatives election. The group, calling itself Concerned APC Stakeholders, insists the seat should go to a native of the Ekiti bloc within the constituency. In a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by its Coordinator, Mr Bayode Dada, the faction described Oyeyemi — whom Dada identified as an Ijebu woman from Ogun State — as a non-indigene and therefore unsuitable for the ticket.
The group acknowledged growing consensus within the party that the incumbent representative, Rep. Tunji Olawuyi, should not be re-nominated. However, it opposed replacing him with someone it views as an outsider. Dada warned that nominating Oyeyemi could breed internal disaffection and harm the party's electoral prospects in 2027. He stressed that the constituency's political future should not be entrusted to a stranger. "All we need now is Ekiti for Ekiti and not an Ijebu woman from Ogun State to take our slot. We cannot afford to toy with our destiny by placing it in the hands of a stranger," Dada said.
The statement reflects rising tensions over candidate selection in the lead-up to the 2027 elections. While the national APC leadership has not confirmed any nomination, the controversy highlights sensitivities around indigeneity and representation in the constituency. The Concerned APC Stakeholders are demanding that any replacement for Olawuyi must come from the Ekiti bloc.
Bayode Dada opposes replacing Tunji Olawuyi with Florence Oyeyemi on grounds of indigeneity, yet accepts Olawuyi's removal despite his local roots. This suggests the group's criteria for belonging apply selectively, depending on political convenience. If Oyeyemi is indeed from outside the constituency, her nomination could alienate voters who identify strongly with local representation. The stance risks framing internal party politics as a contest between insiders and outsiders, deepening divisions ahead of 2027.
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