The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the Ifelodun, Boripe and Odo Otin Federal Constituency deepened on Thursday as a civic coalition, Concerned Citizens of Osun State, accused one of the leading aspirants of alleged certificate irregularities, vote manipulation and a desperate campaign of monetary inducement aimed at influencing party leaders and stakeholders.
The group, led by Segun Alokan and Omolara Sodiya, petitioned the national leadership of the APC, demanding the immediate disqualification of Hon. Eniade Francis Oluwadamilare over what it described as “glaring inconsistencies” in the academic credentials submitted to the party.
But beyond the controversy surrounding the certificates, the petitioners alleged that powerful forces within the party were working behind the scenes to impose a preferred candidate against the wishes of party members and the authentic outcome of the primary election.
Addressing journalists, Alokan claimed that the primary election had been compromised through the alleged alteration of results, insisting that the aspirant who originally emerged victorious was controversially pushed into second place while another contender was declared winner.
According to him, fresh concerns have also emerged over what he described as frantic efforts by political operatives linked to the embattled aspirant to influence critical party decisions through financial inducements.
“We have received disturbing reports that certain individuals are moving from one stakeholder to another, allegedly deploying money and political pressure in a desperate bid to secure legitimacy for a candidature already burdened by serious questions,” Alokan said.
“The party must not allow its internal democratic process to be auctioned to the highest bidder. If these allegations are ignored, it sends a dangerous signal that influence and money matter more than integrity and due process.”
The petitioners alleged that discrepancies existed between the aspirant’s WAEC certificate and the corresponding online result verification records.
According to the group, the names appearing on the certificate differ from those reflected on the online WAEC platform, raising questions about the authenticity of the document.
They further claimed that the certificate contained four names, contrary to what they described as the conventional naming format associated with WAEC records.
The group also questioned the photograph appearing on the certificate, alleging that it was not reflected in the online verification portal.
Sodiya described the discrepancies as “too significant to be ignored,” insisting that the APC owes its members a transparent investigation.
She further alleged that irregularities were also discovered in the aspirant’s NECO records, including what the group described as inconsistent name representations across official documents.
According to the petitioners, the cumulative effect of the alleged discrepancies points to a pattern that warrants immediate scrutiny by both party officials and relevant authorities.
The group also accused unnamed political godfathers of attempting to shield the aspirant from accountability despite mounting concerns raised by party members.
“There appears to be a coordinated effort to bulldoze this candidature through the system regardless of the questions being asked,” the petitioners alleged.
“This is no longer just about one aspirant. It is about whether the APC is prepared to defend its credibility, uphold transparency and resist attempts to manipulate both the electoral process and the party’s internal mechanisms.”
The petitioners urged the APC National Chairman and members of the National Working Committee to launch an independent investigation into the allegations and ensure that justice is done.
They warned that any attempt to suppress the issues or endorse a candidate without addressing the concerns could trigger deeper divisions within the party and erode confidence in its commitment to internal democracy.
As the controversy gathers momentum, party stakeholders are now watching closely to see whether the APC leadership will act decisively or allow what critics describe as one of the most contentious primary election disputes in recent times to fester further.