Tension flared on Thursday at the All Progressives Congress, APC, Secretariat in Ibadan, Oyo State, as a group of aggrieved party members staged a protest over what they described as the imposition of candidates ahead of the party’s forthcoming primaries.

The protesters, who converged at the party’s state secretariat in Ibadan, accused the leadership of sidelining internal democratic processes and replacing them with selections allegedly influenced by a few powerful interests within the party structure.

Carrying placards with various inscriptions, the demonstrators insisted that only a transparent and inclusive process would restore confidence among members. Some of the placards read: “Say No to Imposition,” “Primary is the Way,” “Direct Primary is the Answer,” m, “We Want Direct Primary at Governorship, Senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly Levels", and others.

The protest was led by Ajibola Akeem Egbeda local government and Biodun Adeoye from Ibadan South East Local Government of the state.

The protesters argued that the use of indirect methods or consensus arrangements had repeatedly created division within the party, warning that continued disregard for direct participation could weaken the APC’s chances in future elections. They maintained that allowing all registered members to vote in determining candidates would not only deepen internal democracy but also reduce post-primary grievances.

Some of the aggrieved members said they were not opposed to party leadership but were demanding fairness and transparency in the selection process. They called on the national leadership of the party to intervene and ensure that direct primaries are adopted across all elective positions.

Security presence around the secretariat was visible as the protest continued, though it remained largely peaceful. Party officials were yet to officially respond to the demands at the time of filing this report.