Ibadan: The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has solicited the cooperation of stakeholders for the upcoming Ibadan North Federal Constituency bye-election.
A statement by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, made available to reporters, said that the appeal was made after a stakeholders’ meeting held on Tuesday in Ibadan.
The meeting, which was presided over by the party chairman, Alhaji Olayide Abas, followed the Independent National Electoral Commission’s announcement of the date for the bye-election to fill the vacant seat in Ibadan North Federal Constituency.
Abas acknowledged the receipt of the guidelines, which he said had paved the way for the conduct of a primary election to pick a candidate for the bye-election.
He emphasised the need for all stakeholders to work together in unity of purpose, so that the party can again win the seat, which it won convincingly in the 2023 general election.
“Unfortunately, we lost one of our best-performing elected officials in Hon. Musiliu Olaide Akinremi, but we found solace in the fact that he left an enduring legacy behind.
“It is on this note that we are telling the constituents of Ibadan North to keep faith in us as we shall give them another performer again,” he said.
The party chairman stated that, in line with the INEC directive and APC National Secretariat guidelines, the revalidation and review of the membership register would take place across Ibadan North’s 12 Wards from July 2 to July 5.
He said that the exercise would take place simultaneously at each Ward’s meeting venue, adding, “all members, both new and old, will present their Permanent Voter Card (PVC) for revalidation.
“I want to establish the fact that we have not decided on a particular mode of primary as we are still consulting with relevant stakeholders.
“We have options of consensus as well as direct and indirect primary, but I can assure you that none have been adopted yet.
“However, we are appealing to aspirants and their supporters to embrace peace as we assure them of fairness and justice,” Abbas said.
In their response, the party stalwarts led by Alhaji Bello Adeleke Oladeji expressed confidence in the state leadership of the party.
Oladeji assured that members of the APC’s Apex Committee in Ibadan North have resolved to work together as a team and mobilise support for whoever emerges as the candidate. He described the bye-election as a litmus test for the APC ahead of the next general election.