INEC Flags APC Over Failure to Conduct Ibadan North Bye-Election Primary

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially declared that the All Progressives Congress (APC) failed to conduct its primary election ahead of the scheduled bye-election in the Ibadan North Federal Constituency, Oyo State. This revelation, disclosed in a formal communication from INEC’s Oyo State office on Wednesday, casts a shadow over the ruling party’s chances of fielding a valid candidate for the upcoming electoral contest.

The bye-election is necessitated by the sudden demise of the late Honourable Olayide Akinremi, the lawmaker who previously represented the constituency. Following his passing, political parties, particularly the APC, were expected to organize primaries to nominate their flag bearers for the August bye-election. However, INEC has stated unequivocally that the APC failed to meet this fundamental requirement.

In a letter dated July 21, 2025, and addressed to the Director of Election and Party Monitoring at INEC Headquarters in Abuja, the Acting Administrative Secretary of the commission in Oyo State, Rosemary Alaba Adeniyi, outlined the events—or lack thereof—surrounding the APC’s scheduled primary. She included an attached report signed by Kehinde Omisile, the Acting Head of the Election and Party Monitoring (EPM) department in Oyo State.

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The report was direct and damning: “All efforts to monitor the APC Primary Election as specified in another letter signed by the State Secretary and submitted on Sunday, 20 July, 2025, proved abortive.”

This official statement confirms suspicions that the APC may have failed to meet the critical obligations of internal democracy as stipulated by both the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines. Political observers say this could have significant implications for the party’s ability to present a candidate, especially if legal action is initiated by opposition parties or civil society groups.

INEC’s Monitoring Role Compromised

INEC’s mandate includes monitoring primary elections to ensure compliance with due process, transparency, and legality. The failure of the APC to facilitate INEC’s participation in the monitoring process is not only a procedural lapse but also a breach of electoral integrity.

INEC’s inability to observe the primary could nullify any claims by the APC of having conducted an internal election—regardless of whether such an exercise actually took place. Electoral laws are clear that monitored primaries are essential for candidate validation.

Though APC is yet to release an official statement on the matter, political insiders suggest internal disarray, last-minute changes, or factional disputes may have contributed to the failure. In highly contested constituencies like Ibadan North, where the balance of political power is often tight, such a lapse can cost a party dearly.

Oyo State’s APC Caught in Uncertainty

Ibadan North, a political stronghold with significant voter influence in Oyo State, is now at the center of controversy. The late Akinremi, a popular grassroots politician, had solidified APC’s base in the region. With his unexpected death, the party’s hold on the constituency has become fragile. Failing to conduct a primary election could hand a political advantage to opposition parties, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which is reportedly already finalizing its preparations for the bye-election.

INEC’s report adds weight to mounting concerns about APC’s internal coordination in the state. Just last month, intra-party tensions flared during local congresses, raising doubts about the state executive’s ability to manage critical political processes. The latest development now puts the APC in a precarious legal and political position.

Legal experts argue that any attempt by the APC to submit a candidate without a monitored and duly conducted primary would be met with swift disqualification, either by INEC or through court intervention. Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 mandates that political parties must submit the names of their candidates following valid primaries monitored by INEC. Failure to do so is a recipe for litigation.

The Road Ahead: A Test of INEC’s Enforcement and APC’s Compliance

As the August bye-election draws near, attention will turn to INEC’s next steps. The electoral body is expected to issue a list of validly nominated candidates. Should the APC’s name be absent from this list, it would mark a significant political embarrassment for the party and raise questions about its internal readiness for electoral contests.

Meanwhile, political analysts are also watching to see how the opposition will respond. With the APC potentially disqualified or weakened, the PDP and other parties may intensify their campaigns in Ibadan North, viewing it as an opening to reclaim ground lost in previous elections.

For INEC, the situation is yet another reminder of the importance of strict adherence to electoral laws and internal party democracy. As Nigeria continues to build its democratic institutions, moments like these test not just the parties involved but the very integrity of the electoral process.

The ball is now in APC’s court—whether to challenge INEC’s report, conduct an emergency primary if legally permissible, or accept the consequences of what appears to be a major political misstep.