By Mercy Aikoye
A House of Representatives aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Hon. Ishaq Morufat Ajibola, has petitioned the party leadership, demanding recognition as the duly elected candidate for the Ibadan Northeast/Ibadan Southeast Federal Constituency ahead of the 2027 general election.
Ajibola, who participated in the APC National Assembly primary election held on May 16, 2026, alleged that despite being declared the winner of the exercise, the party has yet to issue her the necessary Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nomination forms required to formalise her candidature.
In a petition dated July 13, 2026, and addressed to the Oyo State APC Chairman, with copies sent to the party’s National Chairman, National Secretary and National Women Leader, the aspirant urged the leadership to urgently rectify what she described as an injustice capable of undermining the party’s internal democratic process.
The petition, titled “Petition and Demand for the Issuance of My INEC Candidate Nomination Form Following My Victory at the APC House of Representatives, National Assembly Primary Election Held on 16th May, 2026,” stated that she was duly screened and cleared to contest the primary election, which she said was conducted in line with the APC Constitution and electoral guidelines.
According to Ajibola, she emerged victorious in the primary election after winning in both Ibadan Northeast Local Government Area and Ibadan Southeast Local Council Development Area, where the results were announced by the party’s electoral committee.
She, however, expressed concern that several weeks after her declaration as winner, she had not received the nomination forms, while other successful APC candidates had reportedly been recognised and issued theirs.
The aspirant argued that the continued delay was prejudicial to her rights as the party’s candidate and could frustrate the mandate freely given to her by party members during the primary election.
While stressing that she had remained loyal to the APC and had refrained from taking actions that could embarrass the party, Ajibola said she opted to seek an internal resolution before considering any legal option.
She called on the APC leadership to immediately confirm her status as the party’s candidate, issue her all necessary INEC nomination documents without further delay, and address any administrative or procedural issues responsible for the delay.
Ajibola also gave the party a seven-day window from the date of receipt of the petition to resolve the matter, expressing confidence that the APC leadership would uphold fairness, internal democracy and the wishes of party members as expressed during the primary election.
