Only Three Aspirants Paid Delegates’ Revalidation Dues….
Fresh revelations have emerged from the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) regarding the ongoing controversy surrounding the delegate election for the Ibadan North Federal Constituency bye-election.
According to credible sources from the Secretariat, all aspirants vying for the party’s ticket were duly instructed to purchase their expression of interest and nomination forms, as well as delegate nomination forms. In addition, they were mandated to pay the outstanding membership dues of their respective delegates.
All ten aspirants reportedly complied with these initial financial obligations. However, the real test of commitment came with the directive that each aspirant must also pay the revalidation dues of their supporters who intended to participate in the delegate congress. This step was clearly outlined as a crucial requirement to determine who had the most mobilized and committed grassroots base.
Shockingly, only three aspirants fulfilled this critical requirement. According to the register, 6,250 members revalidated their membership in anticipation of the congress in Ibadan North. Each aspirant was directed to pay the revalidation dues of their followers to ensure those supporters could validly vote and determine the emergence of delegates.
Seven of the ten aspirants flatly refused to comply. They falsely believed that the State Chapter of the party would bear the cost of the revalidation dues, a claim that contradicts the express guidelines issued by the National Secretariat. Officials at the Secretariat reaffirmed that the directive was clear and binding, but these aspirants chose to flout it.
This gross disregard for party rules now leaves the seven non-compliant aspirants at a disadvantage, as their supporters will not be eligible to participate in the delegate congress. In effect, only the three aspirants who paid for their members’ revalidation stand a legitimate chance in a fair delegate process.
It is therefore imperative that the National Secretariat publishes the names of these three compliant aspirants and discloses how many revalidated members each one paid for. This transparency will confirm, without controversy, which aspirant truly earned the support of the grassroots and deserves to fly the party’s flag.
If the APC is serious about upholding internal democracy and winning back the Ibadan North Federal Constituency, it must enforce its own guidelines and resist any attempt to manipulate the process. The party’s integrity is on the line, and any action that rewards lawlessness and backdoor maneuvering will spell disaster not just for this bye-election but also for the 2027 general election.
We at the APC Concerned Progressive Front are not aligned with any particular aspirant. Our allegiance is to the rule of law, due process, and the collective will of party members. We call on the leadership of the APC at both the National and State levels to rise above personal interests and act decisively to protect the soul of the party in Oyo State.
Ibadan North Federal Constituency must not be sacrificed on the altar of impunity.
