The All Progressives Congress (APC) has firmly denied allegations that non-indigenes were fielded as candidates in the Ekiti State House of Representatives primaries — describing the claims as false, mischievous, and a deliberate attempt by opposition elements to undermine the credibility and integrity of the party’s primary process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party, in a strongly worded rebuttal, insisted that all candidates who participated in its Ekiti House of Representatives primaries were properly screened, duly verified, and confirmed as legitimate indigenes of their respective constituencies — stressing that the APC’s internal processes include robust documentation, indigeneship verification, and screening protocols designed to prevent exactly the kind of irregularities being alleged.
APC officials in Ekiti State described the non-indigene allegations as a coordinated smear campaign — accusing political opponents of deliberately fabricating controversies around the party’s primaries in a bid to discredit the process, demoralise APC candidates, and create a false narrative of institutional failure that could be weaponised in the courts and in the court of public opinion.
The party challenged those making the allegations to present concrete evidence — including names, local government areas, and supporting documentation — to back their claims, warning that unsubstantiated allegations against a legitimate democratic process constitute a dangerous and irresponsible assault on Nigeria’s electoral integrity.
APC Ekiti further stressed that the primary exercise was conducted under the watchful eyes of INEC officials, party supervisors, and accredited observers — making the emergence of undetected non-indigene candidates practically impossible under the strict compliance framework governing the exercise.
The allegation of fielding non-indigenes in federal constituency primaries is a serious electoral offence under Nigerian law — one that, if proven, could result in the disqualification of affected candidates, nullification of primary results, and significant legal consequences for party officials found culpable.
Political analysts note that the controversy reflects the broader pattern of post-primary disputes rocking multiple parties across Nigeria as the 2027 electoral season heats up — with aggrieved aspirants and opposition forces increasingly resorting to indigeneship challenges, manipulation allegations, and court actions as tools to upturn primary outcomes they find unfavourable.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the APC National Working Committee are expected to review the allegations as part of standard post-primary compliance monitoring — with the party confident that a thorough review will fully vindicate its Ekiti primary process.
CDA News Nigeria will continue to monitor developments in the Ekiti APC primaries controversy and bring you updates as the situation unfolds.
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