The All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced the disqualification of a frontline aspirant in the forthcoming governorship election in Ekiti State scheduled for July 20 2026, Kayode Ojo, while dissolving its Executive Committee in Enugu State over persistent factional crises and internal disunity.
The decisions, according to inside sources, marked one of the boldest disciplinary measure by the party in recent times to instill discipline among its rank and file.
The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Durosimi Meseko, announced the decisions after the 179th meeting of the National Working Committee of the APC held at its National Secretariat in Abuja.
He said the move was necessary “to restore order, discipline, and stability” in the APC ahead of key governorship contests.
“The disqualification of the two aspirants was predicated on the fact that their filings did not conform with the APC Constitution and the Electoral Act. The NWC deliberated extensively on the screening report and reached this decision in the interest of due process and fairness”, Meseko said.
Following the NWC’s review of the screening panel report, only Governor Biodun Oyebanji and Atinuke Oluremi Omolayo were cleared to contest the October 27 governorship primary.
Ojo and Olawumi were axed from the race for failing to meet constitutional and legal prerequisites.
Ojo, who also serves as Pro-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), had earlier been provisionally cleared pending the NWC’s verdict after petitions accused him of irregularities in his nomination process, including failure to secure the required number of valid nominators as stipulated by Article 9(1) of the APC Constitution and Section 177(c) of the 1999 Constitution.
The disqualification effectively ends Ojo’s bid for the Ekiti APC ticket, consolidating Oyebanji’s position as the frontrunner for a second term under a less-contested field.
The NWC also dissolved the Enugu State Working Committee, citing “prolonged fictionalisation” that has crippled party operations in the state.
Meseko clarified that the decision was not politically motivated nor linked to speculations surrounding the possible defection of the Enugu State Governor to the APC.
“The Enugu chapter has unfortunately been mired in deep internal divisions. Despite multiple reconciliation efforts, the situation worsened. The NWC therefore resolved to dissolve the executive and constitute a caretaker committee to reposition the party”, Meseko said.
Consequently, a seven-member caretaker committee has been appointed.
Friday Olokor
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