Oyo APC members protest, demand recognition of Gbolagade as Oluyole candidate

Members and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State on Tuesday staged a protest in Ibadan, demanding the recognition of Alhaji Abiodun Gbolagade as the party’s candidate for the Oluyole Federal Constituency.

The protesters, drawn mainly from Oluyole Local Government Area, accused some party members of attempting to undermine the outcome of the party’s primary process through what they described as a parallel political exercise.

Carrying placards and chanting solidarity songs, the demonstrators called on the APC’s state and national leadership to uphold the outcome of the recognized process and reject any attempt to alter the party’s candidate list.

According to the protesters, Gbolagade emerged as the preferred candidate of party delegates and grassroots members in the constituency, insisting that any effort to replace or sideline him could create unnecessary division within the party ahead of future elections.

Speaking during the demonstration, some party leaders urged the APC National Working Committee to intervene and ensure that the party’s internal democratic process is respected.

One of the stakeholders said the protest was aimed at protecting the integrity of the party and preventing internal disputes that could weaken its electoral chances.

“We are calling on the state and national leadership of the APC to respect the wishes of party members in Oluyole. Alhaji Abiodun Gbolagade is the candidate supported by the grassroots, and any attempt to impose another person will only create disunity,” the stakeholder said.

The protesters also appealed to party leaders to reconcile aggrieved members and avoid actions that could further deepen divisions within the Oyo APC.

The demonstration follows reports of disagreements over the party’s National Assembly roster, with some members alleging that parallel political activities were being used to influence the selection process.

As of the time of filing this report, the Oyo State APC leadership had not issued an official response to the protesters’ demands. Political observers, however, say the resolution of the dispute will be crucial to maintaining party unity in the state ahead of future electoral contests.