A group, Movement Against Imposition in Ikale Mehan(MAIIM), has condemned the imposition of Jimi Odimayo as the APC candidate for Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency ahead of the 2027 national assembly elections.
The group said the ruling party would lose the election in the federal constituency if it insisted on retaining Hon Odimayo as its candidate.
Addressing a press conference in Akure on Friday, the convener of the group, Barrister Dele Kuboye, said the decision to impose Odimayo by the APC NWC was an assault on the people of the federal constituency.
Barrister Kuboye warned that the consequences of what he termed “unilateral imposition” could be disastrous for the APC if Odimayo is not replaced with another more acceptable candidate before the window for replacement and substitution closes.
“Hon Odimayo is not the choice of the people. How can the APC NWC impose him on our people without regard for their inputs and the local peculiarities of the constituency?”, he asked.
According to the group, the imposition of the incumbent lawmaker negates the existing rotation principle between the two local governments that make up the constituency since the return of democracy in 1999.
The group noted that it is the turn of Okitipupa Local Government to produce the next lawmaker for the constituency, warning that any attempt to circumvent the rotation principle might spell doom for the APC.
“ It is Okitipupa’s turn to produce the next lawmaker. And that makes Jimi Odimayo unqualified for it since he is from Irele.
We are not even talking about the seeming and pathetic incompetence of the incumbent legislator, perhaps the worst representative for the zone since 1999, “ the convener of the group said.
The group warned the APC NWC to replace Hon Odimayo or face the consequences of not doing so in the coming elections.
“The imposition, if not reversed without delay, could jeopardise the electoral chances of President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections in the constituency. Our people are highly principled and unyielding when it comes to upholding their beliefs and core principles.
“It is even ridiculous and anomalous that the APC NWC chose Odimayo without extensive consultations with critical stakeholders in the constituency. That is not how democracy works. It is even demoralising that it is a so-called progressive party that will perpetrate such an odious imposition, “ Barr Kuboye lamented.
The APC in Ondo State has been enmeshed in crisis since the list of the National Assembly candidates was released last week.
Many political analysts believe the crisis, if not resolved amicably, could seriously undermine the chances of President Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
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