An aspirant for the Ekiti South Constituency II House of Representatives seat on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Adeolu Tinubu, has petitioned the National Chairman of the party, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, demanding the cancellation of the recently conducted primary election in parts of Ekiti State over alleged widespread irregularities and electoral malpractice.
In a formal petition addressed to the National Chairman of the APC in Abuja, Tinubu alleged that the House of Representatives primary election held on May 15, 2026, was conducted in brazen contravention of the Electoral Act 2026.
The aspirant called for the cancellation of the election results in Ekiti East and Ayekire (Gbonyin) Local Government Areas, alleging intimidation of supporters, voter disenfranchisement, over-voting, manipulation of results and violence allegedly perpetrated by thugs loyal to the incumbent lawmaker.
Tinubu, who hails from Emure Ekiti in Emure Local Government Area, claimed that the election process was neither free nor fair, insisting that the exercise was characterised by crisis, harassment and widespread irregularities.
According to the petition, some of his supporters and agents were attacked, beaten and chased away from polling areas by political thugs, thereby preventing them from participating in the electoral process.
Citing provisions of Sections 77(3), 77(5) and 78 of the Electoral Act 2026, as well as Section 227 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), Tinubu argued that elections conducted under intimidation and violence cannot stand under the law.
He urged the party leadership to nullify the results from the affected local governments in the interest of justice, fairness and internal party democracy.
The petition reads, “I, Hon Philip Adeolu Tinubu of Emure Ekiti, Emure Local Government and one of the doable aspirants to the Ekiti South Constituency 2 House of Representatives seat humbly lodge the instant appeal against the conduct of the just conducted All Progressive Congress House of Representatives primary election held on 15h May 2026 on the ground that same was conducted in unconcealed and barefaced contravention of the Electoral Act, 2026.
“The purported conduct of the primary election was marred with irregularities, crisis, humiliation, intimidation, harassment and disfranchisement and/or chasing away my supporters by some thugs sponsored by Hon.Olufemi Bamisile.
“The activities of these election riggers include but are not limited to the intimidation of my supporters, non-accreditation of voters, over-voting, illegal manipulation or crooking of results in favour of Hon. Olufemi Bamisile and rigging by Hon.Olufemi Bamisile’s thugs.
“Hence the demand for the cancellation of the election in Ekiti East Local Government and Ayekire (Gbonyin)Local Government.
“The All Progressive Congress Senatorial primary election held on 15 May 2026 was conducted in obvious and brazen contravention of the Electoral Act, 2026.
“The conduct of the primary election was marred with irregularities, crisis, humiliation, intimidation, harassment, and disfranchisement and or chasing away my supporters by some thugs sponsored by Hon. Olufemi Bamisile.
“The election was massively rigged in Ekiti East and Ayekire(Gbonyin)Local Governments.
“Flowing from the above facts in support of my petition, there is no doubt that the conduct of the primary elections under the context was marred with crises, irregularities, intimidation, disfranchisement, and manipulations of votes in favour of Hon. Olufemi Bamisile. Hence, the said election was not conducted under a free and fair atmosphere or in contravention of the law.
“I hereby submit that the conduct of the primary election is irregular, illegal, null and void and should be cancelled without further delay”, the aspirant stated.
