A group of All Progressives Congress (APC) members in Ekiti State has condemned the party's state leadership over alleged imposition of candidates for the National Assembly. The coalition, calling itself APC Compatriots, accused State Chairman Barr. Sola Elesin of contradicting his public directive against name-dropping Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji by allegedly presiding over a meeting on Friday, 3rd April, 2026, in the GRA area of Ado Ekiti. At that meeting, local government chairmen were reportedly instructed to push preferred candidates under the guise of consensus. The group's leader, Tolulope Aladetuyi, said such actions undermine internal democracy and breed resentment within the party.
Aladetuyi stressed that consensus, as defined by the Electoral Act, requires voluntary and written agreement from all cleared aspirants. If any aspirant declines, a primary election must be held. The group warned that forced consensus erodes trust, discourages participation, and weakens the party's electoral strength. It also expressed concern over the involvement of members of the Ewi-in-Council in partisan politics, urging traditional leaders like Are Afe Babalola to safeguard the integrity of the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti's stool. The APC Compatriots called on Governor Oyebanji to rein in party officials engaging in what they described as undemocratic practices.
Barr. Sola Elesin cannot publicly preach neutrality while allegedly engineering candidate imposition behind closed doors. His actions, as cited by APC Compatriots, expose a pattern of performative governance that risks fracturing the party's base in Ekiti. When party leadership operates on contradiction, the erosion of trust doesn't just hurt aspirants—it hollows out the APC's chances in future elections. Governor Oyebanji's silence in the face of such allegations signals tolerance, not control.
