APC Candidate Appeals to Tinubu Over Alleged Manipulation of Ondo Rep Primary

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

Prince Monday Akinyomi, an All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirant for the Ilaje/Ese‑Odo Federal Constituency seat in Ondo State, has written to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu demanding that the party address what he says is the manipulation and hijacking of the primary election.

In a protest letter dated 18 May 2026, Akinyomi claimed that the primary scheduled for 16 May did not take place because the party officials assigned to conduct the exercise failed to appear at the venue.

The aspirant said the deliberate sabotage of the process could erode confidence in the APC’s internal democracy and contradict the party’s publicly stated democratic ideals and progressive principles.

Akinyomi, who had lived in the United States before returning to Nigeria, said he was inspired to join politics after President Tinubu’s appeal to Nigerians in the diaspora to come back and contribute to national development under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

He explained that he answered that call by returning to Nigeria, remaining loyal to the APC, and actively supporting the party during the 2023 general election.

The aspirant disclosed that he had purchased both the expression of interest and nomination forms for the Ilaje/Ese‑Odo contest in good faith, expecting a transparent and credible exercise.

He lamented that the alleged manipulation has raised concerns about fairness and equal opportunity within the party.

Akinyomi warned that if the situation is not addressed, it could discourage Nigerians in the diaspora from responding to future calls to return home and contribute to governance and national development.

He further argued that allowing such practices to stand would signal that competence, loyalty and sacrifice are secondary to predetermined political arrangements.

The APC aspirant appealed to President Tinubu to intervene and ensure justice, fairness and due process in the conduct of the primary election.

He expressed confidence in the president’s leadership and urged him to protect the integrity of the party and Nigeria’s democratic system.

Copies of the petition were also sent to the national leadership of the APC in Abuja.