A coalition of All Progressives Congress aspirants for the House of Representatives in Oyo State has called on the party’s national leadership to review the process through which its candidates for the 2027 general elections were selected.

The aspirants, operating under the aegis of the Coalition of Concerned APC House of Representatives Aspirants in Oyo State, alleged that the process failed to provide the transparent and competitive primaries they expected, claiming that candidates were instead selected through what they described as a “unity list.”

The coalition made its position known in a communiqué titled, “On the Conduct of the Party Candidate Selection Process and the Imperative of Genuine Reconciliation Ahead of the 2027 General Elections,” made available to PUNCH Online on Monday.

The group said it remained committed to the APC and President Bola Tinubu but urged the party to urgently address grievances arising from the candidate-selection process to prevent divisions ahead of the 2027 elections.

According to the aspirants, they participated in the process with the expectation that credible, transparent and competitive primaries would be conducted in accordance with the APC constitution and relevant party guidelines.

They, however, alleged that the process did not allow aspirants and party members to fully exercise their democratic rights, as names were allegedly selected and presented through a “unity list.”

The coalition acknowledged the role of party leaders in promoting consensus and internal cohesion but argued that genuine unity could not be achieved through exclusion.

It maintained that where consensus was considered necessary, it should be based on consultation, mutual consent and fairness, rather than being imposed without adequate engagement with aspirants who had invested significant resources and built political structures across their constituencies.

The group consequently called on the APC national leadership to review the candidate-selection process, listen to the grievances of affected aspirants and establish a mechanism for reconciliation.

The development followed the unveiling of the Oyo APC’s 14 House of Representatives candidates for the 2027 elections in September.

Among those named on the list are Akeem Adeyemi for Afijio/Atiba/Oyo East/Oyo West Federal Constituency; Wasiu Akinmoyede for Akinyele/Lagelu; Tajudeen Kareem for Atisbo/Saki East/Saki West; and Akinola Alabi for Egbeda/Ona-Ara, among others.

The aggrieved aspirants said they had made significant contributions to the growth of the APC at the grassroots through various empowerment programmes, educational support, healthcare interventions, youth and women development initiatives, agricultural assistance and community projects.

They also said they had committed personal resources to membership mobilisation, ward organisation and voter engagement while establishing relationships with community, religious, professional, youth and women groups.

The coalition urged the party leadership to recognise these contributions and grassroots structures and integrate the affected aspirants into the APC’s campaign strategy for the 2027 elections.

It also requested the establishment of a high-level reconciliation committee made up of respected national and state party leaders who would be acceptable to all parties involved.

The aspirants further urged the APC to ensure that whenever consensus was adopted as a method of selecting candidates, it was achieved through transparent engagement and the voluntary agreement of the aspirants concerned.

Despite expressing dissatisfaction with the process, the coalition said it had no intention of abandoning the APC.

“We remain within the APC and are prepared to work for its victory,” the group stated.

The aspirants insisted that lasting unity within the party must be founded on justice, consultation, mutual respect and reconciliation.

They also appealed to their supporters across Oyo State to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding while the matter is addressed through the appropriate party channels.

The communiqué was signed by nine members of the coalition: Tunde Bello, Sanusi Ridwan, Ibrahim Lasisi, Saheed Oladele, Bakare Nurudeen, Ganiyat Olawore, Idowu Adesokan, Ishaq Morufat Ajibola and Nureni Adesina Abd Salam.

The All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Abia State for the 2027 general election, Eric Opah, has unveiled Godswill Egbe as his running mate, declaring that the party is fully prepared to win the election.

Opah presented Egbe to members of the APC in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, on Monday, describing his choice of running mate as a carefully considered decision.

The APC candidate said he took his time before settling for Egbe because of the importance of trust and cooperation between a governor and deputy governor.

According to him, disagreements between principals and their deputies have often affected governance, making integrity and loyalty key considerations in selecting his running mate.

“If you want to choose somebody to work with, you have to make sure that it is not somebody who will give you trouble.

So, because running mate and deputy governor positions often come with disagreements with the principal, I took my time.

“I have to tell our party members, this is a man of integrity,” Opah said.

He expressed confidence that Egbe would make both the APC and residents of Abia State proud, stressing that their campaign would be focused on winning the 2027 governorship election.

“Let me make it very clear. We are running this election. APC is running this election to win,” he declared.

Opah also promised that an APC administration under his leadership would prioritise accountability, job creation and the development of infrastructure across the state.

He said public funds would be deployed for the benefit of Abians, while his administration would avoid making exaggerated claims about projects delivered by the government.

“Agu Egbe will work with me in honesty to use Abia money to work for Abians. We are not going to claim 400 roads when we build 20. We are going to ensure that we create jobs for Abians,” he said.

Speaking during the event, the state APC chairman, Chijioke Chukwu, endorsed Egbe, describing him as not only a man of integrity but also “a chosen man of God’s will.”

In his response, Egbe pledged to work in accordance with the leadership structure of the party and support Opah in implementing his vision for Abia State if elected.

He promised to align himself with the campaign manifesto and provide the necessary support to ensure the success of the administration.

“I will align with the manifesto. I will give in, and I will really be a support to realise that vision,” Egbe said.

The APC running mate also expressed confidence in the party’s chances in the 2027 election, saying its members were committed to securing victory for the party at the state and national levels.

“We are committed to winning. We are committed also to be the champion, to give our father, the leader of APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the resounding victory that he requires.

“We are the APC, and we are the people who will bring that vote. Let nobody go to claim the result of our good work.

• “I will stand by Opah firmly, strongly, honestly, resolutely, and we are running to win,” he vowe.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Lagos State governorship candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has said he has no disagreement with former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, despite the political differences between Obi and his presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Rhodes-Vivour made the clarification in an interview with BBC Igbo published on Monday, where he said his primary political focus remained Lagos State while reaffirming his commitment to the ADC and its presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to him, his political relationship with Obi should not be affected by the differences between the two politicians at the national level.

“I have no issues whatsoever with His Excellency Peter Obi, regardless of what happens at the top level.

My first priority and my first love is Lagos State, and I must always make decisions based on Lagos first,” Rhodes-Vivour said.

The ADC governorship candidate recalled that both Atiku and Obi had featured prominently in his previous political engagements, noting that their political positions had changed across successive election cycles.

“The first time I ran for Senate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was a presidential candidate; His Excellency Peter Obi was his vice president,” he said.

He added, “The next election His Excellency Peter Obi was running for president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was running for president, and His Excellency Peter Obi was a presidential candidate.”

Rhodes-Vivour said his current membership of the ADC had placed him firmly behind Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate, stressing that he would work toward the success of the party.

“I’m in the ADC, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is my presidential candidate, that’s where I am, so we are going to do everything we can for our party as the ADC,” he said.

He nevertheless urged Nigerians to independently decide who they want to support at the polls, stressing the need for voters to ensure that their voices are reflected in the electoral process.

“Nigerians should vote for who they believe is going to take them forward, and let’s ensure as a people that our voices are heard, and our votes count,” he said.

Rhodes-Vivour rejects ‘Lagos is no-man’s land’ claim
The ADC candidate also rejected the description of Lagos as a “no-man’s land,” arguing that the state has never been without an established history, ownership and ancestry.

“Lagos has never been a no-man’s land,” he said.

Rhodes-Vivour questioned the basis for the description, particularly in relation to the ownership and sale of land in the state.

“You know, every four years you hear these things, you don’t come and hear that one Igbo man called Chukwu said that Lagos is a no-man’s land.

These things are not true, because these people that you are talking about, should be there on money that they pay money to,” he said.

He added, “If it’s no-man’s land, who are they buying the land from?”
The Lagos governorship candidate said the description was particularly offensive to him because of its implications for his ancestry.

“But for anybody to say Lagos is a no-man’s land, that’s a very big insult. It’s an insult not just to me, it’s an insult to my ancestors,” Rhodes-Vivour said.

His comments come as political alignments and alliances continue to take shape ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the ADC positioning itself as a platform for opposition figures and supporters seeking an alternative political direction.