A coalition of youth groups in Ekiti State has urged Governor Biodun Oyebanji and leaders of the All Progressives Congress in the state to uphold internal democracy by conducting free and fair primaries to select candidates for the 2027 National Assembly elections.
David Adegboyega, leader of the People’s Movement, emphasized the need for proper primaries to determine the House of Representatives candidate for Ekiti Central Federal Constituency I, while Tayelolu Ajayi, Coordinator of the Ekiti North Progressive Youth Alliance, called for fairness in selecting the senatorial candidate for Ekiti North Senatorial District.
In a joint statement released in Ado Ekiti on Monday, the youth groups urged the APC to “adopt direct primaries, ensure inclusiveness and maintain a clear separation between traditional institutions and partisan politics.”
Adegboyega stressed that “credible candidate selection processes will be critical to the party’s success in the 2027 elections,” and called on traditional rulers in Ekiti Central Federal Constituency I to avoid endorsing any aspirant. He said, “Traditional institutions symbolize unity, dignity, and cultural heritage. They must remain strictly apolitical and should never be used as instruments for political advantage.”
The coalition’s stance comes amid allegations that some political actors were pressuring a royal father to back an underperforming lawmaker. Adegboyega stated, “The coalition rejects moves to impose candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections. We are calling for transparent, credible and democratic primary processes within the APC. Any attempt to manipulate the process or impose a third-term incumbent through indirect means – particularly via traditional institutions – will undermine democratic values and threaten political stability in the state.”
Ajayi added that Ikole Local Government Area should be given the opportunity to produce the next senator in Ekiti North to promote fairness, strengthen unity, and ensure balanced development across the district. He described automatic tickets for incumbents as “political fraud” and a violation of democratic principles, noting that “Democracy must provide a level playing field. Automatic tickets promote entitlement over performance and deny capable aspirants the opportunity to serve.”
