AN aspirant in the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the Oluyole Federal Constituency, Hon Abiodun Gbolagade, has insisted that he won the party’s primary election and urged the Federal High Court to restore what he described as his mandate.

Addressing journalists in Ibadan on Friday, Gbolagade said he approached the court after what he alleged was the wrongful declaration of the incumbent lawmaker representing the constituency, Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, as the party’s candidate for the 2027 House of Representatives election.

The APC chieftain maintained that the primary election was conducted through the direct primary option in line with the Electoral Act and the party’s guidelines, adding that coalition centres across the constituency had been communicated to all aspirants before the exercise.

According to him, all aspirants participated in the process except Akande-Sadipe, whom he alleged did not appear at any of the designated coalition centres.

“The primary election was conducted at the approved coalition centres known to every aspirant. Virtually all the contestants were present except Honourable Tolulope Akande-Sadipe. The results were collated and I was declared the winner at the party office,” he said.

Gbolagade claimed he polled 2,315 votes in the exercise, while Akande-Sadipe scored 33 votes, insisting that the outcome reflected the wishes of APC members in the constituency.

He further alleged that despite the declared result, “fake reports” later emerged online claiming that the incumbent lawmaker had won the primary.

According to him, this development prompted him and his supporters to seek legal redress rather than resort to self-help.

“We decided to follow the rule of law. We have taken the matter to court because we believe the mandate of APC members in Oluyole Federal Constituency must be protected,” he stated.

The aspirant disclosed that the case had already been filed before the Federal High Court, adding that the matter came up for its first hearing recently.

He also alleged that attempts by court officials to serve Akande-Sadipe with court processes had been unsuccessful, claiming that she could no longer be located at her known residence within the constituency.

Gbolagade, however, stressed that the issue was now before the court and expressed confidence that the judiciary would resolve the dispute. (TRIBUNE)