2027: Ekiti APC youths kick against plot to field consensus Reps candidate

By Boye Oyeyemi

The All Progressives Congress in Ekiti is currently experiencing tension as youths of Ado Local Government Area on Saturday rejected moves to impose a consensus candidate for the Ado/Irepodun–Ifelodun Federal Constituency.

The aggrieved youths, drawn from 13 wards, staged a protest in Ado-Ekiti, warning party leaders against what they described as an attempt to sideline democratic processes ahead of the 2027 general elections. Some of the placards read, “No to imposition,” “Let party members decide,” and “Ado deserves better representation,” reflecting growing discontent within the party’s grassroots base.

The protest comes amid rising internal friction within the Ekiti APC, as debates over consensus candidacy continue to stir controversy ahead of the party’s primaries for the 2027 elections.

In their demonstration, the protesters demanded direct primaries, insisting that only an open contest would produce a credible candidate for the party.

Speaking during the protest, the Convener of Ado Concerned Youths, Tajudeen Adeleye, said the demonstration was aimed at safeguarding internal democracy within the APC, amid criticizing the quality of representation in the constituency over the past eight years

Describing the constituency’s representation as underwhelming and lacking meaningful impact on the people, the youth leader said, “Ado is not a people without a voice. We are not a people without a choice. No one should impose a candidate on us.”

Going further, the group reaffirmed its support for Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s second-term ambition, urging him to ensure a transparent and fair process in selecting the party’s candidate.

Similarly, they also cautioned key stakeholders, including Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, against influencing the emergence of any preferred aspirant, calling for neutrality.