Political tensions are mounting within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State as elders and youths in Oke-Ero Local Government Area have rejected the alleged emergence of Mrs. Olasumbo Florence Oyeyemi as the party’s candidate for the Ekiti/Irepodun/Isin/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The stakeholders insisted that the House of Representatives ticket should be reserved for a bona fide indigene of Oke-Ero, arguing that the local government has waited for more than two decades to produce the constituency’s representative in the National Assembly.
In a joint statement issued on Saturday, the leader of the elders’ caucus, Chief Bayo Alabi, and the youth coordinator, Mr. Dayo Ashaolu, expressed dissatisfaction over what they described as an attempt to hand the party’s ticket to someone they do not consider an indigene of the area.
According to them, although Oyeyemi is married into Oke-Ero, they maintain she is originally from Ijebu in Ogun State and should not be regarded as a native of the constituency.
The group argued that Oyeyemi’s previous appointment as a commissioner under Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq does not automatically confer indigene status on her.
They noted that following the withdrawal of Hon. Tunji Olawuyi from the race, the political atmosphere appeared favourable for Oke-Ero to finally produce the APC’s candidate for the federal constituency.
The stakeholders also cited what they described as previous instances where individuals married into the area occupied public offices, insisting they do not want such a situation repeated in the race for the House of Representatives.
According to them, allowing an indigene of Oke-Ero to contest under the APC would guarantee genuine representation and fulfil the long-standing aspiration of the local government to occupy the seat.
They appealed to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and the leadership of the APC in Kwara State to reconsider the alleged choice of candidate and support what they described as a true son or daughter of Oke-Ero.
The group further warned that reports suggesting Oyeyemi had already completed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nomination process, if confirmed, could trigger discontent among APC members in the local government and weaken the party’s support ahead of the 2027 elections.
“We reject the candidacy of Olasumbo. Our position is that the House of Representatives ticket meant for Oke-Ero should not be given to someone we do not regard as an indigene of the local government,” the stakeholders declared.
They urged the APC leadership to review the situation in the interest of fairness, justice and party unity, expressing hope that the concerns of Oke-Ero members would be considered before the 2027 general elections.
