APC PRIMARY: WE WON’T ALLOW IMPOSITION OF CANDIDATE IN IBARAPA CENTRAL/NORTH FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY ……. BAR. OPE TIJANI

Barr. Opeyemi Tijani, an aspirant for House of Representatives, with other 5 (five) aspirants out of 7 (seven) aspirants, jostling for Ibarapa Central/North Federal Consistency’s ticket under the umbrella of All Progressives Congress(APC), have kicked against what they described as manipulation in guise of fake Delegates List and attempted imposition of Hon. Muraina Ajibola, coupled with intimidation and threats to life that led to the cancellation of APC primary election in the federal Constituency. The election was supposed to take place on Friday, 27th of May, 2022, at the Township Hall, Igboora, Oyo State.

According to the legal luminary on his social media page:

”That Hon. Muraina Ajibola Saubana’s candidacy while in PDP, and now in APC, is no longer relevant in our Federal Constituency. He is from Ibarapa Central and has been rebuked by all and sundry, the reason he lost his structure in PDP before he was pushed aside.

APC ticket for the House of reps position in 2023 slot to Ibarapa North Local Government. This zoning arrangement has been adopted for fair sharing, equity and togetherness. However, we’re ever ready to resist any form of imposition or cheating, especially this time around”

He furthered:

”The reason why APC Party leadership considered Ibarapa North local government this time around is to enthrone fair sharing, equity and togetherness, and to give our party the reliable structure required to win the general elections in the Constituency”.

In addition, to justify the position of our leaders on the zoning arrangement, below are the Names of Honourable Members of Federal House of Representatives in our Constituency, their local government and tenure in office, from 1999 till date:

1. *Hon. Ojegoke Rafiu Oladeni from Ibarapa North: 1999 to 2003.*

2. *Hon. Adebanjo A. Omodele (Àfín) from Ibarapa Central: 2003 to 2007.*

3. *Hon. Ajibola Saubana Muraina from Ibarapa Central: 2007 to 2011.*

4. *Hon. Ajibola Saubana Muraina from Ibarapa Central: 2011 to 2015.*

5. *Hon. Ojoawo Gbenga Ayode (Iloko) from Ibarapa North: 2015 to 2019.*

6. *Hon. Ajibola Saubana Muraina from Ibarapa Central: 2019 till date.*

In summary of the above analysis, between 1999 to 2022, Ibarapa Central spent 15years while Ibarapa North spent 8years. So to enthrone equity and balance, all stakeholders unanimously, resolved that the leadership of APC at the National and State should consider the aspirants from Ibarapa North Local Government as we all know that; “injustice to one, is an injustice to all, and anybody who calls for equity must come out with clean hands”.

Barr. Tijani, in conjunction with others, however, lamented about rumours coming from different quarters, that due to the inability of the Primary election committee from Abuja, to conduct House of Representatives’ and House of Assembly elections on the 26th, and 27th of May, 2022, respectively, as earlier scheduled, that the head of a powerful political power bloc in the state have perfected plans to use fake delegates list to impose Hon. Ajibola Saubana Muraina, as the consensus candidate, without other aspirants’ consent.

”This is against the rules and regulations of the party. We know and believe all registered/genuine members of the party have the right to vote and be voted for. We, as genuine aspirants, implore all relevant stakeholders and party faithfuls to intervene and give us all equal freedom to be voted for, so as to prevent electoral failure at the polls”.

Nevertheless, Barr. Opeyemi has advised the leadership of APC to avoid future political failures that may arise as a result of the rumoured imposition of any aspirant.

In conclusion, Barr. Opeyemi has assured the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, of his unrelenting efforts/support, geared towards victory in 2023, in as much as the credible candidates are considered.