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From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti
The lawmaker representing Ekiti North Federal Constituency II, comprising Moba, Ilejemeje and Ido-Osi Local Government Areas in the Lower Chamber, Kolawole Davidson Akinlayo, has described the May 16, 2026, All Progressives Congress House of Representatives primary election as a sham and a disgrace to democracy.
The APC National Assembly Primary Election Committee, chaired by Asipa Adedoyin Banjo, on Sunday announced Ibrahim Olanrewaju as the winner of the primary election in Ekiti North Federal Constituency II, defeating the incumbent lawmaker Akinlayo.
Reacting to the development, Akinlayo rejected the outcome of the primary election, alleging that the results were manipulated. He demanded that a fresh election be conducted.
The lawmaker made this known to newsmen on Sunday while providing accounts of what transpired at some of the voting centres across the constituency.
**Quoted material preserved with minimal obvious corrections:**
“The election was a sham. It was a disgrace to democracy. In the entire Ilejemeje, there was no election and figures were written. People were on the queue from 8:00 am to almost 11:00 am and nobody attended to them. And we saw some people with guns who were shooting to disperse people.
“When they were counting in Ido ward one I had 351 votes and a serving Senator came and disrupted the place. In the two wards in Ifaki I had over 800 people who queued in four lines shouting my name that they want to vote until one Tunde Aladegbami came with fake photocopy result sheets and they just went away. The same thing in Usi-Ekiti they had counted 492 votes for me but when the Chief of Staff to the Governor came, he said he wanted to see the electoral officer and he collected the results and went away with it and drove away the INEC official.
“The figures announced were manipulated. This election should be cancelled and a free and fair election be conducted with adequate security provided so that a popular candidate can emerge. It shouldn’t be a situation if they are using government instrument to intimidate people.
“What I am saying is that for elections to be credible, it has to be fair and free but for the one conducted on Saturday, there was nothing like election. It was a rape of democracy.”
Akinlayo, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Special Duties, Kunle Adetifa, also said that the outcome was unacceptable, questioning the credibility of the process.
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The statement reads, “Hon. Akinlayo Davison Kolawole the MHR representing Ekiti North Federal Constituency II has strongly rejected the purported results announced for Ekiti North Federal Constituency II. He described the outcome as unacceptable, alleging irregularities and questioning the credibility of the process conducted by the returning officer. According to him, the exercise did not reflect the true will of party members and was marred by actions inconsistent with democratic principles.
“Hon. Akinlayo reaffirmed his commitment to justice, fairness, and due process, insisting that the mandate freely given by the people must not be subverted. He called on the party leadership and relevant authorities to thoroughly investigate the conduct of the primary and ensure that the right thing is done in the interest of democracy and the integrity of the APC.
“This development underscores the importance of transparency, internal democracy, and credibility in party primaries. As the APC prepares for the general elections, it is imperative that all grievances are addressed promptly and fairly to foster unity and strengthen the party’s chances at the polls.
“The voice of the people must remain supreme, and every legitimate vote must count.”
He dismissed insinuations that he was no longer an ally to the Governor of the state, Biodun Oyebanji. “I still respect the governor. I still love him and I still love my party and will continue to work for my party. I don’t have issues with the governor and I don’t have issues with anybody. What I don’t know is maybe some people have issues with me. And whatever I am doing is in the interest of the party.
“The whole crisis started from some elements within the party. We trust the party and we trust the judgement of the leadership of the party. We will take it up and they will resolve it because I have evidences that will be very difficult to fault.
“I am a grassroots person. I am well-rooted in my constituency and the entire Ekiti State and the people love me. I render assistance to people across the state and people can testify to that. And for the fact that the people love me, you can’t also take that away.”
He also clarified claims that he donated a certain amount to support the governorship ambition of Engr Kayode Ojo, one of the governorship aspirants who joined the June 20 election race in the state but was disqualified at the screening stage.
“I have not spoken with Engr Kayode Ojo in the last one year. I am not saying that I don’t know him. When he told me he wanted to contest for the 2026 governorship election in the state, I told him that I can’t leave the Governor and I have not spoken to him because of that in the last one year.
“I heard some people said that I gave him N200 million to support his ambition. Why will I give him N200 million from my business money? How much am I making to give out such a huge amount? They are just parading fake news because this is the time for lies.”
He urged his supporters to remain calm and peaceful and assured them of taking back his mandate lawfully. “I urge my supporters to remain calm and peaceful. Nobody should fight. Nobody should be violent. We will take back our mandate in a lawful way. We will approach the leadership of the party and express our grievances.”
