By Femi Awojobi
The just-concluded APC primary in Ekiti North Senatorial District has reignited a debate that never really goes away in Nigerian politics: should the power of incumbency and selfish interests override grassroots electoral reality?
At the center of the storm is Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s open backing of incumbent Senator Cyril Fasuyi, who served as Director General of the governor’s second-term campaign. On the other side stands a former lawmaker Senator Ayo Arise who commands stronger grassroots support across the district.
The grievance is straightforward. Arise’s camp alleges that the primary was skewed by the use of government appointees as returning officials, that queues for their candidate were ignored in several wards, and that results were altered to favor Fasuyi where Arise had won. The APC leadership in Abuja has not publicly commented on the specifics, but the perception of an engineered process is already circulating within the party base.
If these claims resonate with voters on the ground, the political cost could be significant. Ekiti North is not a district where APC can afford to bleed votes. The governorship election is slated for June 20, 2026, and the 2027 presidential election will follow shortly after. A disenchanted bloc in North could weaken the party’s ability to deliver both for Governor Oyebanji’s re-election and for President Bola Tinubu’s second-term bid.
From a purely political calculus, the argument for Arise is about numbers. Supporters point to his previous electoral record and argue he can deliver at least 150,000 votes in the district in a way that a less popular incumbent cannot. From the governor’s perspective, the logic for Fasuyi is about control and continuity—keeping a loyal ally in the Senate to coordinate the campaign machinery.
But politics is not played only in Government House. It is tested at ward congresses, polling units, and on election day. When members believe the process has been compromised, loyalty shifts fast. Nigeria’s electoral history is littered with cases where disputed primaries cost parties senatorial seats and governorships, no matter how strong the state machinery looked on paper.
The way out is not complicated. The APC National Working Committee and the Presidency still have time to intervene. A transparent review, a reconciliation meeting. Since Governor Oyebanji had adopted Cyril before the primaries, Sen. Arise needs to be considered as Candidate in a deliberate efforts to integrate Arise’s structure. This, could limit the fallout. Ignoring the dispute and hoping it will fade is the surest way to hand the district to the opposition.
For APC, the choice is clear: prioritize short-term control of the party structure, or secure the votes needed to win in 2026 and 2027. In politics, the two do not always align. When they don’t, the wiser move is to side with the votes.
Right now, the Ekiti North situation looks less like a settled primary and more like an unresolved internal dispute with electoral consequences. If the APC wants to hold the district and deliver for both Oyebanji and Tinubu, ignoring the grievances is riskier than addressing them. The party’s own history shows that disputed primaries left unaddressed often cost it seats on election day.
Femi Awojobi, a Journalist and Media Expert Writes From Ado Ekiti 080 3764 3696 or kingfemi13@gmail.com
