A governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress in Ogun State, Abayomi Hunye, has faulted the conduct of the party’s governorship primary, describing the exercise as lacking transparency and falling short of democratic standards.
Hunye, who is challenging the outcome of the primary in court, alleged that the process was marred by imposition, disenfranchisement of genuine party members and widespread irregularities, insisting that the election did not reflect the will of party stakeholders.
Speaking in an interview with The PUNCH, obtained by PLATFORM TIMES, the former aspirant maintained that while he remained loyal to the APC, the party must address concerns over its internal democratic processes to retain the confidence of its members.
“The governorship primary was deeply disappointing and fell short of the democratic standards expected of our great party. There were widespread complaints of imposition, disenfranchisement of genuine party stakeholders and several irregularities that undermined confidence in the process,” he said.
Hunye stressed that his decision to challenge the primary was driven by the need to protect fairness and democratic principles rather than personal ambition.
He also renewed the agitation for Ogun West, particularly the Yewa axis, to produce the state’s governor, arguing that the district had remained politically loyal since 1999 but had yet to occupy the state’s highest office.
According to him, the demand for a Yewa governor is rooted in equity, inclusion and a sense of belonging.
Responding to questions on why he rejected the consensus arrangement that produced Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, as the APC governorship candidate, Hunye said he was not opposed to consensus as a democratic option but insisted that genuine consensus must be voluntary and involve broad consultations.
“What was presented did not reflect broad acceptance among aspirants and party members. I contested because I believe every qualified member has the constitutional right to seek elective office,” he stated.
The aspirant also dismissed the official result of the primary, which reportedly recorded zero votes for him despite his campaign organisation’s claim that he secured 453,765 votes.
Although he declined to comment extensively because the matter is before the court, Hunye insisted there was documentary and video evidence to support his claims.
“The notion that a governorship aspirant who campaigned extensively across the state and enjoyed massive grassroots support scored zero votes is something Nigerians can assess for themselves,” he said.
On the decision to institute legal proceedings against the party, Hunye disclosed that he first explored the APC’s internal dispute resolution mechanism but resorted to litigation because of the Electoral Act’s 14-day deadline for filing pre-election cases.
He argued that approaching the court should not be interpreted as hostility towards the party but as a lawful means of seeking justice.
Expressing confidence in the judiciary, Hunye said he believed the courts would determine the matter based on facts and due process.
He, however, ruled out immediate plans to dump the APC despite the dispute, saying he remained committed to progressive politics and the party he had helped build over the years.
Hunye also said he bore no personal grudge against the APC governorship candidate, Senator Adeola, noting that their disagreement was political and legal rather than personal.
He further described his relationship with Governor Dapo Abiodun as cordial despite leaving the administration, saying political differences should not be mistaken for personal hostility.
Reaffirming his commitment to the Yewa governorship agenda, Hunye said the struggle was about justice, fairness and equal opportunity for every section of Ogun State to aspire to leadership.
“We remain focused, law-abiding and committed to pursuing our cause through legitimate democratic and legal means. At the end of the day, truth, justice and the will of the people will prevail,” he added.
