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A coalition of youth groups in Ekiti State has called on Governor Biodun Oyebanji and leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to uphold internal democracy by conducting transparent and credible primary elections ahead of the 2027 National Assembly polls.
The groups emphasized the importance of fairness in selecting candidates, particularly for key positions such as the House of Representatives seat for Ekiti Central Federal Constituency I and the senatorial slot for Ekiti North.
Speaking through a joint statement issued in Ado Ekiti, leaders of the coalition—David Adegboyega of the People’s Movement and Tayelolu Ajayi of the Ekiti North Progressive Youth Alliance—advocated for the adoption of direct primaries, inclusiveness, and a clear separation between traditional institutions and partisan politics.
Adegboyega stressed the need for broad stakeholder participation in choosing candidates within Ekiti Central, which includes communities in Ado and Irepodun/Ifelodun local government areas. He also cautioned traditional rulers against endorsing political aspirants, noting that monarchs should remain neutral to preserve the integrity of traditional institutions.
The coalition’s stance follows allegations that some political actors are attempting to influence royal fathers to support certain aspirants. The youth groups strongly rejected any attempt to impose candidates, warning that such actions could undermine democratic values and destabilize the political landscape in the state.
They insisted that credible and transparent primaries are essential to the APC’s success in the 2027 elections and vowed to resist any moves that bypass the will of the people.
On his part, Ajayi called for equity in the selection process, suggesting that Ikole Local Government Area should be given the opportunity to produce the next senator for Ekiti North, as the area has not held the position since 1999. He argued that such a move would promote fairness, unity, and balanced development across the district.
Ajayi also criticized the idea of granting automatic tickets to incumbent lawmakers, describing it as undemocratic and unfair to other aspirants. He maintained that leadership positions should be earned through open competition rather than entitlement.
The coalition reiterated that strengthening internal democracy within the APC would be key to maintaining public trust and ensuring electoral success in the coming years.
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