Ekiti Rep rejects APC primary result, calls for review

A member of the House of Representatives from Ekiti State, Akinlayo Kolawole, has rejected the outcome of the All Progressives Congress primary election held in his constituency on Saturday.

Kolawole, who represents Ekiti North Federal Constituency 2 and was seeking the party’s ticket for another term, described the result announced by the returning officer, Banjo Adedoyin, as inconsistent with the true will of delegates and party members.

Adedoyin had declared a former National Assembly member, Ibrahim Olarewaju, as the winner of the primary with 6,856 votes. According to the announced figures, Kolawole scored 2,102 votes, while Omole Samson got 1,322 votes and Ayodeji Dada polled 2,896 votes.

In a statement issued on Monday, the lawmaker said the declared outcome did not reflect the votes freely cast by party faithful across the constituency. He called on the APC national leadership and relevant electoral authorities to intervene, review the process, and ensure that the true result is upheld in line with party guidelines and democratic norms.

Kolawole said the process leading to the result declaration fell short of the principles of transparency, fairness, and due process expected of a credible party primary. He expressed confidence that a free and transparent collation would affirm the mandate given to him by his constituents.

The federal lawmaker urged his supporters to remain calm and law-abiding, assuring them that every lawful step would be taken to protect their mandate and preserve the integrity of the electoral process.