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Fresh crisis is brewing within the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ibarapa East Local Government as stakeholders from Lanlate have raised alarm over what they described as “alleged imbalance” in the ongoing arrangements for the party’s 2027 House of Assembly and Federal House of Representatives tickets.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Wednesday, the Lanlate Concerned Political Observers Group accused party leaders of tilting the internal process in favour of Eruwa, warning that the development threatens unity, inclusiveness, and internal democracy ahead of the general elections.
According to the group, the controversy began on Monday, April 27, 2026, when a 10-man committee constituted by the APC in Ibarapa East met with all House of Assembly aspirants from both Lanlate and Eruwa.
At the meeting, the committee briefed a total of twelve aspirants — eight from Eruwa and four from Lanlate on the modalities for selecting a candidate.
However, the Lanlate group lamented that “as of the date of this release, no further communication, feedback, or invitation has been extended to the aspirants regarding the next phase of the process.”
The group said the lack of clarity has created “uncertainty and growing concern among stakeholders.”
The statement revealed that information currently in circulation indicates that “the House of Assembly ticket has been zoned to Eruwa.”
Concurrently, the group disclosed that some Lanlate leaders had earlier proposed that the Ido/Ibarapa East Federal House of Representatives seat be ceded to Lanlate, with particular reference to one of its aspirants.
But that understanding, they said, has now been disrupted.
“Recent developments suggest that this understanding has been disrupted, as multiple aspirants from both Eruwa (Mr Adeolu Masolanu) and Lanlate (Mr Adebayo Aderounmu) have now obtained nomination forms for the Federal House of Representatives seat,” the statement read.
The Lanlate Concerned Political Observers Group warned that the evolving situation “raises serious concerns about fairness, equity, and balance within the party structure, as it appears that one community may dominate both elective positions to the disadvantage of the other.”
To avert disaffection, the group is demanding that APC leadership at the state and local government levels “ensure a level playing field by allowing aspirants from Lanlate equal opportunity to contest for the House of Assembly ticket.”
“This is necessary to maintain unity, inclusiveness, and internal democracy within the party,” the statement emphasized.
Citing legal and democratic safeguards, the group reminded the party that “the Electoral Act provides for mechanisms such as consensus and direct primaries, particularly in circumstances where internal arrangements may lead to disaffection or division within the party.”
It therefore urged the APC State Leadership and Executive “to adopt an open and inclusive approach by allowing all qualified aspirants to obtain Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms without restriction.”
“Denying any aspirant this opportunity undermines both party principles and democratic ideals,” the group stated.
The Lanlate stakeholders further argued that the participation of aspirants from Eruwa in the Federal House of Representatives race “effectively alters any prior zoning understanding.”
“As such, equity demands that Lanlate aspirants be equally permitted to contest for the House of Assembly position,” the statement added.
While reaffirming its loyalty, the Lanlate Concerned Political Observers Group said it “remains committed to the unity, progress, and electoral success of the APC” but called on all party leaders “to act in the interest of fairness, justice, and collective progress.”
The statement was signed by the Lanlate Concerned Political Observers Group on April 30, 2026.
The development introduces a fresh layer of tension into Ibarapa East politics, where Lanlate and Eruwa are the two dominant blocs. Party insiders say unresolved zoning disputes have historically weakened the APC’s performance in the local government during general elections.
With the House of Assembly ticket reportedly zoned to Eruwa and both towns now fielding candidates for the Ido/Ibarapa East Federal Constituency, analysts warn that failure to manage the grievances could trigger parallel structures, protests, or defections ahead of the 2027 polls.
The APC State Working Committee is yet to issue an official response to the Lanlate group’s demands as of press time.
Ibarapa East Local Government is composed of two major communities, Eruwa and Lanlate, with long-standing rivalry over political representation. The State Constituency seat and the Federal House of Representatives seat covering Ido/Ibarapa East are often subjects of zoning negotiations to maintain balance.
The 2027 election cycle is the first major test of the APC’s internal conflict resolution mechanism in the area since the 2023 general elections.
All eyes are now on the Oyo State APC leadership under the State Chairman and the party’s screening and selection committees. Whether the party will reopen the Assembly contest to Lanlate aspirants or proceed with the reported zoning to Eruwa will determine the temperature of Ibarapa East politics in the coming weeks.
Stakeholders across the state are watching to see if the APC will uphold “fairness, justice, and collective progress” as demanded by the Lanlate group, or risk internal cracks before the primaries.
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