The primary election conducted by the All Progressive Congress (APC) to present a candidate for the by-election to fill the vacant seat of the Ibadan North Federal Constituency has been reportedly marred with controversy with nine aspirants rejecting the outcome of the exercise.
The primary, which was held over the weekend, was marred by allegations of manipulation, violence, and open confrontation among aspirants and party leaders.
The aggrieved aspirants submitted that the conduct of the primary was dotted with noticeable flaws as it was hijacked by vested interests.
The APC primary in Ibadan, held amidst tight security, was marred by allegations of manipulation, violence and open confrontation among aspirants and party leaders.
Tensions reached a boiling point when Idris Lapade, a former chairman of Ibadan North Local Government and one of the leading aspirants, was allegedly assaulted by another aspirant.
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Eyewitnesses at the venue claimed that the altercation broke out after heated arguments over the credibility of the process.
Lapade, it was learnt, had confronted party agents over the alleged doctoring of delegates’ lists when the fracas ensued.
“Lapade was allegedly hit in the chest by a substance suspected to be a local charm. He went down on the floor, writhing in pain as sympathisers were seen milling around him. He was later evacuated from the venue and rushed to the hospital for treatment.
“It was a shameful sight. We expected a peaceful contest, but instead it turned into a battlefield. If our leaders can’t manage an internal primary, how can they govern?” one visibly angry delegate stated.
Meanwhile, the majority of aspirants have pointed accusing fingers at a serving public office holder, whom they alleged had hijacked the process through his influence on the committee members sent from the national secretariat of the party in Abuja.
“The entire process was a charade. The primary was neither transparent nor credible. How can a serving minister who only recently returned to the party dictate the outcome of an election in a constituency he doesn’t belong to?” one of the aggrieved aspirants asked rhetorically.
