Oyo: Gbolagade insists he won APC Oluyole Reps primary

An aspirant in the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the Oluyole Federal Constituency in Oyo State, Hon Abiodun Gbolagade, has insisted that he won the party’s primary election and urged the Federal High Court to restore what he described as his mandate.

Addressing journalists in Ibadan on Friday, Gbolagade said he approached the court after what he alleged was the wrongful declaration of the incumbent lawmaker representing the constituency, Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, as the party’s candidate for the 2027 House of Representatives election.

The APC chieftain maintained that the primary election was conducted through the direct primary option in line with the Electoral Act and the party’s guidelines, adding that coalition centres across the constituency had been communicated to all aspirants before the exercise.

According to him, all aspirants participated in the process except Akande-Sadipe, whom he alleged did not appear at any of the designated coalition centres.

“The primary election was conducted at the approved coalition centres known to every aspirant. Virtually all the contestants were present except Honourable Tolulope Akande-Sadipe. The results were collated and I was declared the winner at the party office,” he said.

Gbolagade claimed he polled 2,315 votes in the exercise, while Akande-Sadipe scored 33 votes, insisting that the outcome reflected the wishes of APC members in the constituency.

He further alleged that despite the declared result, “fake reports” later emerged online claiming that the incumbent lawmaker had won the primary.

According to him, this development prompted him and his supporters to seek legal redress rather than resort to self-help.

“We decided to follow the rule of law. We have taken the matter to court because we believe the mandate of APC members in Oluyole Federal Constituency must be protected,” he stated.

The aspirant disclosed that the case had already been filed before the Federal High Court, adding that the matter came up for its first hearing recently.

He also alleged that attempts by court officials to serve Akande-Sadipe with court processes had been unsuccessful, claiming that she could no longer be located at her known residence within the constituency.

Gbolagade, however, stressed that the issue was now before the court and expressed confidence that the judiciary would resolve the dispute.

While recounting events leading to the primary, the APC stalwart said Akande-Sadipe had allegedly informed him in 2023 that she would not seek another term and encouraged him to contest for the seat.

He claimed that after consultations with party leaders, family members and political stakeholders, he agreed to run and subsequently invested resources in rebuilding the APC structure in Oluyole Federal Constituency.

According to him, the party had become inactive at the grassroots before his intervention, adding that he financed mobilisation efforts, welfare programmes and membership drives aimed at reviving the APC ahead of the elections.

“I accepted to contest because the leaders said the party needed someone with the capacity to rebuild it. We worked hard to strengthen the structure and attract members back to the APC,” he said.

He further claimed that online opinion polls conducted among APC supporters before the primary indicated he enjoyed wider acceptance among party members.

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Gbolagade alleged that APC leaders at both the state and national levels were aware of the controversy surrounding the primary and had been urged by stakeholders in Oluyole Federal Constituency to respect what they described as the outcome of the election.

He also referenced protests by party members in the constituency, saying the demonstrators rejected alleged attempts to substitute the outcome of the primary.

According to him, the APC state leadership appealed for patience and promised to review the concerns raised by party members.

Responding to speculation that his supporters might defect to another political party following the dispute, Gbolagade dismissed the claim, insisting that he remained committed to the APC.

“We are members of APC and we are already preparing for the general election. Our confidence is in the judicial process, and we believe the mandate will be restored,” he said.

He added that his supporters would continue mobilising for the APC while awaiting the court’s determination of the case.