By Our Correspondent

National News – Aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State on Thursday staged a protest against the alleged imposition of candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The protesters gathered at the party secretariat in Oke-Ado, Ibadan, during a leadership and stakeholders’ meeting involving party aspirants.

They warned the APC leadership against allowing money and political influence to determine who emerges as candidates for future elections.

The demonstrators insisted that the party should organise transparent, free and credible primary elections instead of handpicking aspirants.

According to them, unfair selection processes contributed to the party’s poor performance in parts of the 2023 general elections.

The protesters called on party leaders to create a level playing field for all aspirants seeking elective offices in Oyo State.

The protest reportedly disrupted activities at the APC secretariat for several hours as tensions rose among party supporters and officials.

Some protesters alleged that certain influential figures within the party were already positioning preferred candidates for the 2027 elections without consulting party members.

Reacting to the incident, the Oyo State APC Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, accused unnamed individuals of sponsoring hoodlums to destabilise the party.

He claimed that the attackers stormed the secretariat armed with dangerous weapons and charms, causing panic and destruction within the premises.

Sadare explained that vehicles, office windows, doors and other property at the secretariat were damaged during the attack.

He, however, confirmed that no life was lost during the unrest. Security agencies have reportedly begun investigations into the incident.

The protest highlights growing internal tensions within the APC in Oyo State as political activities gradually intensify ahead of the 2027 elections.

Political observers believe party unity and transparent primaries may play a major role in determining the APC’s electoral success in the state.