Deputy governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Oyo State, Chief Niyi Aborisade, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to respect the outcome of the party’s governorship primary and uphold Dr Gbemileke Alagbe as the duly elected candidate for the 2027 election.
Aborisade made the call on Monday while reacting to the substitution of Alagbe’s name with that of Taofeek Adegboyega on the list of candidates for the Oyo State governorship election.
He said the ADC governorship primary, conducted across the 351 wards in the state on May 22, 2026, was free and fair and witnessed by INEC officials.
According to him, the outcome of the exercise was clear, adding that Alagbe emerged winner and was issued a Certified True Copy of the result.
Aborisade, who was one of the aspirants in the primary, said it was therefore surprising that Alagbe’s name was replaced with that of Adegboyega, whom he said did not win the primary.
He said the development was capable of undermining the democratic choice of party members and called on INEC to ensure that the outcome of the primary was respected.
“The election was free and fair and witnessed by INEC, and a Certificate of True Copy was promptly issued.
“It now comes as a surprise that some group of people under the influence of money went to INEC to substitute the name of Dr Gbemileke Alagbe Eleniyan for Taofeek Adegboyega, who did not win the primary election,” he said.
Aborisade described the alleged substitution as “an assault on democracy” and an attempt to subvert the will of genuine party members who participated in the primary.
He urged INEC and other relevant stakeholders to act promptly to ensure that justice was done and that the mandate of the party members was not undermined.
“We invite all lovers of democracy to intervene and see that justice is done promptly.
“This assault on our democracy should not be allowed to be victorious. The will of the people must be respected,” he said.
Aborisade also appealed to stakeholders and lovers of democracy to speak out against actions capable of weakening internal party democracy and undermining the credibility of the electoral process.
He stressed that the outcome of a duly conducted primary should not be altered at the expense of the democratic rights of party members.
