By John Dike, Osogbo
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, Chief Ayodeji Babatola, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene in the affairs of the party in the state, alleging the marginalisation of loyal members by the administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji.
Babatola said the alleged sidelining of party faithful has eroded confidence among aggrieved members, many of whom, he claimed, have vowed to abstain from participating in forthcoming elections.
According to him, the growing disaffection poses a serious threat to the party’s structure in Ekiti and could negatively impact votes for President Tinubu in the 2027 general election.
The APC stakeholder raised the concerns over the weekend in Ado-Ekiti while hosting an end-of-the-year programme for party stakeholders and grassroots members.
Speaking with journalists at the event, Babatola described the future of the APC in Ekiti as “bleak and unsustainable” if what he termed persistent injustice and exclusion of members continue.
He alleged that aspirants seeking elective offices are often unjustly disqualified, citing the case of a former governorship aspirant, Engineer Kayode Ojo, who was disqualified by the party’s National Working Committee on the grounds that his nominators were not registered APC members.
Babatola dismissed the justification for the disqualification, describing it as a contradiction of the party’s constitution.
Recounting his personal experience, the APC chieftain said he was also affected during the 2018 National Assembly primaries in Ekiti State under the administration of former Governor Kayode Fayemi.
He alleged that despite assurances of a free and transparent process, the primaries were compromised, with preferred candidates allegedly imposed. He added that aspirants were promised refunds for nomination forms purchased, a commitment he said has remained unfulfilled to date
Babatola warned that the increasing number of aggrieved members could weaken the party’s electoral fortunes in the state if urgent steps are not taken to address their grievances.
He stressed that the APC belongs to all its members and must uphold justice, fairness and internal democracy in line with its founding principles.
“If a selected few continue to hijack the party and run it like a family inheritance, then the road ahead for the APC is bleak and unsustainable,” he said.
He urged President Tinubu, as the national leader of the party, to intervene to prevent what he described as a possible collapse of the APC in Ekiti and neighbouring Osun State.
The highlight of the event was the distribution of palliatives worth millions of naira, including bags of rice and cooking oil, to grassroots party members as part of end-of-year support for the festive season.
Babatola said the gesture was aimed at recognising the dedication and commitment of party loyalists who, according to him, have not been adequately appreciated by the party hierarchy or political appointees.
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