There is a looming sharp division in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ayedire Local Government of the State of Osun.
This is as a result of the dissatisfaction of majority of party members whose votes were upturned in the House of Assembly primary election of the APC.
According to reports, majority of the party members voted for the incumbent lawmaker representing the constituency, Hon. Gbenga Ogunkanmi in a clear compromised direct primary.
Ogunkanmi won in Ward 1 and 3 , Oluponna, Ward 4, Okeosun, Ward 5, 6, 7 and 8, Ileogbo, and Ward 9 and 10, Kuta.
But the result of the primary was later manipulated around 2pm at the Government House, in favour of Ogunkanmi’s opponent, Mr Wale Ajiboye who is the preferred of people who are not party members against the wishes of the party members in the council area.
Ajiboye was the Personal Assistant to Ogunkanmi when he was the Caretaker Chairman of Ayedire local government between 2011 and 2014.
As at the time of filing this report, members of the APC in Ayedire local government are in shock and disbelief over the development.
According to some of the APC who spoke with our correspondent, the manipulation of the primary election result may spell doom for the party in future elections.
A party member who spoke to newsmen under the condition of anonymity said: “The development is shocking and sad to us. We had voted in the election and saw our results before we later heard that the person we voted for was not declared. It is sad and we won’t take this lightly.
“We are peaceful people but we will protest this, may be when election comes. As it stands, a lot of members are angry with the decision of the party leadership to impose candidate on us. We will not accept it. For every reason, we will not allow this impunity to sail through. The party is divided already and we don’t know what next our people will do.”
