Abuja | October 24, 2025
Hundreds of aggrieved members and supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Ekiti State on Friday stormed the party’s national secretariat in Abuja to protest what they described as the “unjust and politically motivated” disqualification of Engr. Kayode Ojo, a leading aspirant in the forthcoming Ekiti APC governorship primary election.
The protesters, drawn from the 16 local government areas of Ekiti State, arrived at the Blantyre Street headquarters of the APC as early as 9 a.m., chanting solidarity songs and carrying placards with inscriptions such as “We say no to Kayode Ojo’s disqualification,” “Let the people decide,” “No to imposition in Ekiti,” and “We reject consensus, we demand open primary.”
Security personnel, including the police and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), were seen stationed at strategic points to prevent a breakdown of law and order. Despite the heavy security presence, the protesters, largely made up of women and youths, conducted themselves peacefully while insisting on fair treatment for their preferred aspirant.
Accusations Against the Screening Committee
According to the protesters, the APC Screening Committee unjustly excluded Engr. Ojo from the list of cleared aspirants, allegedly to pave the way for the incumbent Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, to emerge as a consensus candidate without contest.
One of the group leaders, Mrs. Dupe Akinwale, who spoke to CoolNews Nigeria, described Ojo’s disqualification as “an open assault on internal democracy.”
“Kayode Ojo has been a loyal party member and a major financier of APC in Ekiti State. There is no justifiable reason for his exclusion except political manipulation. We reject any attempt to impose a candidate on us,” she declared.
Another protester, Mr. Gbenga Adaramola, accused the party leadership of orchestrating a plot to sideline credible aspirants.
“If the APC wants to remain strong in Ekiti, it must allow every qualified aspirant to contest. This idea of clearing only one candidate is dangerous and undemocratic,” he said.
Engr. Ojo’s Reaction
In a statement issued earlier this week, Engr. Kayode Ojo, an accomplished engineer and industrialist, described his disqualification as “a travesty of justice and a deliberate attempt to silence the will of party members.”
He vowed to challenge the decision both within the party and through legal means if necessary.
“We will not sit back and allow internal impunity to destroy what we have collectively built. Democracy must thrive within the APC,” Ojo stated.
APC’s Silence and Internal Tension
As of press time, officials of the APC National Working Committee (NWC) had yet to issue an official response to the protest. However, a source within the secretariat hinted that the screening panel cited “documentation inconsistencies” in Ojo’s nomination papers — a claim his supporters dismissed as “baseless and politically motivated.”
The protest comes just days before the scheduled APC governorship primary in Ekiti State, fixed for Monday, October 27, 2025. Political observers believe the development could deepen internal divisions within the ruling party, especially if the grievances of the protesters are not addressed.
Women Take the Lead
One striking feature of the Abuja demonstration was the massive turnout of women supporters from Ekiti, many of whom said they travelled overnight to register their displeasure.
“We want our votes to count. We do not want imposition again in Ekiti politics,” said Mrs. Funmi Adeoye, leader of the APC Women Forum in Ado Ekiti. “Engr. Ojo represents competence and integrity; he must be allowed to contest.”
Possible Implications
Political analysts say the protest signals growing discontent within the APC in Ekiti State. If unresolved, it could result in mass defections or legal disputes that may weaken the party ahead of the 2026 gubernatorial election.
Meanwhile, the party leadership in Abuja has reportedly scheduled an emergency meeting to review petitions from aggrieved aspirants, including Engr. Ojo, before finalising the list of cleared candidates.
CoolNews Nigeria will continue to monitor developments around the APC governorship primaries and report on any official reactions from the party’s national leadership and Engr. Kayode Ojo’s campaign team.
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