Ekiti 2026: Protesters storm APC secretariat, reject consensus Gov canidate

Aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Ekiti State on Friday staged a protest at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja.

The protesters, carrying placards and chanting solidarity songs, called on the National Working Committee (NWC) to conduct a proper governorship primary election ahead of the 2026 polls.

They expressed their rejection of the alleged move to impose a consensus candidate on the party in the state.

Some of the placards carried by the protesters had inscriptions such as “We don’t want consensus,” “Women say no to consensus candidate in Ekiti,” and “Disqualification is political harassment.”

According to the protesters, adopting a consensus arrangement amounts to a deliberate attempt to disqualify other aspirants from contesting the governorship ticket.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Chief (Mrs.) Bolanle Owolabi described Ojo’s disqualification as an affront to democratic ideals and a calculated move to undermine the will of the people.

She said the people of Ekiti have found in Ojo a trustworthy and competent leader who represents the best hope for inclusive governance and development in the state.

She said, “Let the national leadership of the party know what we are passing through in Ekiti State. All Ekiti people need Kayode Ojo to be our next governor in 2026 because he is a man of honesty, loyalty and accountability. I don’t support consensus—there is no consensus. We need a primary because people are ready to vote for him. People love him.”

Owolabi further argued that Ojo’s inclusion in the race would strengthen the APC’s chances of victory, not only in the 2026 governorship election but also in the 2027 general elections, as his popularity would translate into strong grassroots mobilisation and overwhelming support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

She added, “With Ojo on the ballot, President Bola Tinubu is assured of the unalloyed support of Ekiti people. Any attempt to sideline him will weaken the party’s base and embolden the opposition.”

Other speakers at the protest warned the party leadership against any move to manipulate the process in favour of a preferred aspirant, noting that such actions could trigger internal crises similar to what the party experienced in past election cycles.