Osun APC Crisis Over Disputed Senatorial Primary

Political tension is gradually building in Osun State after Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi openly rejected the outcome of the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary election conducted for Osun Central Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The primary election, which took place on May 19, 2026, was organized to determine the APC candidate that will represent the district in the next election cycle. However, the exercise has now become a major talking point within the party following allegations of manipulation and irregularities raised by Senator Fadeyi.

According to the APC National Assembly Primary Election Committee led by Mr. Bayo Ayo, Adekunle Rasheed Adegoke emerged victorious with a total of 26,655 votes, while Senator Fadeyi polled 13,138 votes. Other aspirants in the race included Yomi Ogunwale with 2,925 votes, Akintunde Adegboye who secured 342 votes, and Olu Fakeye who recorded 67 votes.

Shortly after the result was announced, Senator Fadeyi dismissed the exercise as lacking credibility. In a statement released in Osogbo, the senator alleged that no proper primary election was conducted across the 116 wards in Osun Central. He further claimed that the results eventually announced were not genuinely collated from the wards but were allegedly prepared in a private hotel in Osogbo.

The senator also accused some party officials of deliberately manipulating the process against him. He expressed disappointment over the reported collapse of a consensus arrangement allegedly supported by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other influential APC stakeholders. Despite his grievances, Fadeyi appealed to his supporters to remain calm and law-abiding while he explores available party mechanisms to challenge the outcome.

Reacting to the controversy, Osun APC spokesperson Kola Olabisi stated that every aggrieved aspirant has the constitutional right to seek redress through the party’s internal structures. He advised party members to embrace dialogue and avoid actions capable of escalating tensions within the APC, stressing that peaceful engagement remains the best approach to resolving political disagreements.

Political observers believe the development once again highlights recurring concerns surrounding party primaries in Nigeria, where accusations of irregularities and lack of transparency are common. Analysts have also warned that unresolved disputes within the APC could weaken party unity in Osun State as preparations for the 2027 elections intensify.

With political activities already gaining momentum across the country, many stakeholders continue to emphasize the importance of transparent, fair, and credible internal processes as a way of strengthening democracy, maintaining public confidence, and preserving unity within political parties.