Ex-Governor’s son alleges plot to change result of Kwara Reps primaries

Son of former Kwara state Governor, Engr. Cornelius Oluwasegun Adebayo, has accused some ‘cabals’ in the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of plotting to change the result of the House of Representatives primaries for Ekiti/Isin/Irepodun/Oke-Ero constituency.

Adebayo had reportedly won the original primary election held on 27th of May, 2022 at Omu-Aran.

Another rerun was, however, held on Friday involving the serving House of Representatives member for the constituency, Hon Raheem Olawuyi Ajulo Opin.

But Adebayo who reacted through the spokesperson of his media team, Emmanuel Moronfoye, during a press conference, said Ajulo Opin never participated in the initial process.

He said “the kangaroo rerun election is null and void and cannot stand the test of time”.

Describing the rerun as a “rude shock”, Adebayo said Ajulo-Opin contested for the APC Kwara South senatorial district primary election and lost to Sen. Lola Ashiru.

“He (Ajulo Opin) didn’t partake in the screening and never made it to the ballot for the original primary election for the House of Representatives seat.

“He must have fraudulently connived with the so called cabal to get the nomination form.

“The purported re-run election was not communicated to Engr Cornelius Oluwasegun Adebayo and the reason for the cancellation of the only valid election is still unknown.

“Cornelius Adebayo was neither represented or have any agent present during the rerun. It was an internal arrangement orchestrated by a few unscrupulous elements disguised as progressives”, he added.

Efforts to get the reaction of Ajulo Opin or his media aide was not successful as they failed to pick several calls and texts messages sent to them on the matter.

But the coordinator of a group loyal to the serving reps member, Mrs Dorcas Atoyebi, in a statement, said some aspirants had petitioned the appeal committee on irregularities noticed during the initial exercise thereby putting the integrity of the primary in doubt.

She said the national secretariat of the party then informed the state and sent officials to reconduct the primary alongside some other states.

However, the PRO of the APC in Kwara, Alhaji Tajudeen Folaranmi Aro said “the part will wade into the matter” adding that “I cannot say who is the candidate for now”.