The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) came under fresh pressure on Tuesday as hundreds of women and youths protested in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, demanding that the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) declare House of Representatives aspirant, Simisola Fajemirokun-Ajayi, winner of the party’s primary election for the Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo/Odigbo Federal Constituency.

The protesters, who marched through major streets in Odigbo carrying placards with various inscriptions, accused unnamed party officials of attempting to alter the outcome of the primary election in favour of another aspirant.

Among the placards displayed were: “Respect the Will of the People,” “Every Vote Must Count,” “Return Our Mandate Now,” and “Let Democracy Prevail in Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo/Odigbo.”

The demonstrators insisted that the votes cast by delegates reflected the choice of party members and urged the APC leadership to uphold the integrity of the electoral process.

Addressing journalists during the protest, the APC Women Leader in Odigbo, Bukola Oyinkansola, alleged that a “fake result” was being circulated despite what she described as the victory of Fajemirokun-Ajayi at the primary.

She appealed to the National Working Committee to release what she called the authentic result of the exercise, expressing confidence that the party leadership would ensure justice.
“We have come out to reject the fake list being circulated because it does not reflect the choice of our members. We voted for Simisola Fajemirokun-Ajayi and we want the authentic result released,” she said.

Oyinkansola also expressed confidence in President Bola Tinubu, Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and the national leadership of the APC to ensure that the genuine outcome of the primary election prevails.

Also speaking, the APC Youth Leader in Odigbo, Ebenezer Osunkiyesi, alleged that there were attempts to impose another candidate on the constituency despite the outcome of the primary.
He warned that any move to disregard the wishes of party members could create disaffection within the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“We know the outcome of the primary and we do not want any manipulation. We appeal to President Bola Tinubu and the party leadership to ensure justice so that our party remains united,” he said.

The Publicity Secretary to the Orunja of Odigbo Kingdom, Adetayo Adebayo, also urged the APC national leadership not to tamper with what he described as the original results of the primary election.
“We stand by the mandate of Hon. Simisola Fajemirokun-Ajayi. The votes of our people must count,” he said.

The protesters maintained that respecting the outcome of the primary election would strengthen internal democracy within the party and reinforce the confidence of members in the APC’s electoral processes.

They warned that any attempt to overturn the outcome of the exercise could undermine party unity in the federal constituency.

As of the time of filing this report, the APC had not officially declared the winner of the House of Representatives primary for the Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo/Odigbo Federal Constituency, while the party had yet to respond to the allegations raised by the protesters.

The demonstration comes amid growing concerns and petitions from some APC stakeholders in Ondo State over the conduct and outcome of the party’s recently concluded primary elections ahead of the 2027 general elections.