APC youth group challenges Obe to prove primary victory claim
By Boye Oyeyemi
The Oodua Progressive Youths League, a support group of the All Progressives Congress in the South-West, has challenged a former aspirant for the Ifedore/Idanre Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives, Mr Rasaq Obe, to provide evidence supporting his claim that he won the party’s recently concluded primary election.
The group also faulted comments allegedly made by Obe during an interview on Arise Television, where he claimed victory in the primary and warned that President Bola Tinubu could lose Ondo State in the 2027 general election if the APC failed to reverse the substitution of National Assembly candidates.
In a statement issued on Saturday by its General Secretary, Wale Abdulwaheed, the group described the remarks as unfortunate, particularly the suggestion that the ptesident’s electoral fortunes in the state depended on the outcome of the dispute.
The group maintained that while every aggrieved party member had the constitutional right to seek redress, Obe lacked the moral standing to question the decision of the APC National Working Committee, alleging that he had withdrawn from the race before the primary election.
According to the statement, Obe’s media team had announced his withdrawal on the eve of the exercise in support of Hon. Tajudeen Adefisoye, popularly known as Small Alhaji, who was presented as the consensus candidate backed by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
It, however, claimed that following the disqualification of Adefisoye by the party’s screening committee, Obe was asked to return to the contest but alleged that neither he nor his supporters actively participated in the primary.
“We challenge Mr Rasaq Obe to produce any video showing his supporters or accredited agents carrying his campaign materials during the primary election. He should also provide evidence showing that he or any of his agents was present at the collation centre in Igbara-Oke where the results were compiled,” the statement read.
The group further alleged that Obe failed to secure the backing of party members in his hometown, insisting that many members supported Prince Dero Fadola, who had stepped down for Hon. Festus Akingbaso, popularly known as FessyWest. It added that despite the controversy surrounding the primary, the APC remained confident that President Tinubu would secure a convincing victory in Ondo State and across the South-West in the 2027 general election.
