“Consensus or Conspiracy?” — Outrage Trails Oyo APC Senate Primaries as Party Disqualifies Key Aspirants
The political atmosphere within the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State has become increasingly tense following the controversial disqualification of several prominent aspirants ahead of the party’s senatorial primaries.
Among those reportedly screened out are Wasiu Ajimobi, brother of the late former Oyo State governor Abiola Ajimobi, alongside businessman Kola-Daisi, Faozey Oladotun Nurudeen, and other hopefuls seeking the party’s ticket. Meanwhile, aspirants such as Remi Oseni, Yunus Akintunde, and Adeolu Akande were reportedly cleared to proceed.
The development has sparked widespread debate among party loyalists and political observers, with many questioning whether internal democracy within the party is gradually being sacrificed for carefully orchestrated political arrangements.
For many supporters, the situation once again exposes what they describe as the dangerous loopholes embedded within Nigeria’s political and electoral system — loopholes that powerful political interests often exploit to sideline perceived threats and impose preferred candidates.
Across social media and political circles in Oyo State, reactions have been mixed. While some party stakeholders insist that the screening process was conducted according to party guidelines and constitutional provisions, others believe the exercise was designed to favour certain aspirants long before the primaries even began.
Critics argue that disqualification has increasingly become a political weapon in Nigerian politics. Rather than allowing delegates or party members decide through transparent voting, parties are often accused of using technicalities, internal screening panels, and controversial eligibility claims to eliminate candidates viewed as obstacles to predetermined outcomes.
The controversy has now raised fresh questions about whether Nigeria’s Electoral Act truly contains enough safeguards against politically motivated disqualifications within party structures.
Although the law provides guidelines for candidate nomination processes, many political analysts believe internal party politics still operates largely beyond the reach of meaningful democratic accountability. As a result, aggrieved aspirants frequently find themselves battling party leadership rather than campaigning before delegates.
For some APC supporters in Oyo State, the latest episode feels less like political strategy and more like self-inflicted damage at a critical moment when the opposition party is working aggressively to rebuild public trust and strengthen its chances ahead of future elections.
Several party faithful have openly expressed disappointment, arguing that a party seeking a strong return to political dominance cannot afford to alienate loyal members through perceived injustice or imposition.
The growing concern is not necessarily about who eventually emerges as candidate, but whether the process itself appears credible, transparent, and acceptable to ordinary party members.
Many within the party insist they do not have personal preferences among the aspirants. Their argument is simple: whoever wins through a free and fair primary should naturally become the party’s flagbearer. However, they fear that once party members begin to perceive that outcomes are being manipulated behind closed doors, internal unity becomes difficult to sustain.
Political observers warn that unresolved grievances from controversial primaries often return during general elections in the form of voter apathy, anti-party activities, silent protests, defections, and internal sabotage.
In Oyo State particularly, where political loyalty is heavily influenced by local structures and grassroots relationships, many believe decisions perceived as unjust could create avoidable cracks within the APC’s support base.
Supporters of the disqualified aspirants are already expressing frustration, with some alleging that consensus politics is gradually replacing competitive democracy within the party.
Others, however, defend the party leadership, insisting that political parties reserve the right to determine who qualifies under their internal rules and screening standards.
Still, the optics of the situation remain troubling for many observers.
At a time when Nigerians continue demanding accountability, transparency, and genuine democratic participation from political institutions, controversies surrounding candidate imposition and selective disqualification risk deepening public distrust in the political system.
As the APC moves closer toward its primaries and future electoral battles in Oyo State, many party loyalists believe one thing is certain: decisions taken today may ultimately shape the party’s strength, unity, and electoral fortunes tomorrow.
Whether these disqualifications were justified administrative actions or carefully calculated political moves, the consequences may extend far beyond the primary election itself.
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