Idris Olukoya
Mr Abayomi Hunye, an All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Ogun, has explained why he opted for the court to determine disputes surrounding the party’s 2027 governorship primary.
Mr Femi Oyewale, Media Adviser to Hunye, gave the explanation while representing his principal at a news conference held in Ogba, Lagos, on Friday.
Oyewale said Hunye wanted the court to clarify issues surrounding his alleged suspension, participation in the nomination process and the May 21 governorship primary.
He said Hunye was not asking the media or members of the public to determine the dispute, but wanted the facts and relevant documents subjected to judicial scrutiny.
Oyewale said the APC had alleged that Hunye was suspended on April 7, 2026, following a petition from his ward in Tube, Ipokia Local Government Area.
He, however, said Hunye maintained that he was not formally served with any suspension notice.
Oyewale added that Hunye subsequently obtained the APC governorship nomination documents on April 28 and paid N50 million for the forms.
He said this raised questions about how Hunye could have participated in the nomination process if his alleged suspension had already taken effect.
According to him, Hunye was also screened by the party and maintained that he was cleared to participate in the governorship primary held on May 21.
Oyewale said Sen. Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, was declared winner of the primary with 304,055 votes, while Hunye was recorded as scoring zero votes.
He said Hunye disputed aspects of the result and questioned the accreditation, voting and collation records, stressing that the issues remained matters for the appropriate authorities to determine.
Oyewale said Hunye initially pursued the party’s internal mechanisms by appealing the primary outcome to the relevant party authorities.
He said the aspirant subsequently approached the court after, according to him, no substantive response was received from the party.
“The decision to seek judicial redress was not intended to undermine the APC, but to obtain a lawful determination of the issues surrounding the primary,” Oyewale said.
He said Hunye’s legal challenge should not be interpreted as a personal dispute with Adeola, adding that the central issue was whether the process leading to the emergence of the party’s candidate complied with applicable rules and law.
Oyewale also dismissed allegations that former Ogun governorship candidate Ladi Adebutu was sponsoring Hunye’s legal challenge.
He said Hunye’s political activities were neither funded nor directed by Adebutu.
He further rejected the allegation that Hunye was impersonating the APC governorship candidate, saying his principal was challenging the process through which the candidate emerged.
Oyewale said Hunye was not asking the police to determine the dispute, but wanted the appropriate legal process to resolve the issues.
He urged the APC to make available relevant documents concerning the alleged suspension, nomination, screening, accreditation and primary results.
He added that such records would help clarify the issues in dispute.
Oyewale said Hunye had instructed his supporters to remain peaceful and law-abiding, adding that nobody should insult, threaten or attack anyone over the political dispute.
The media adviser said Hunye remained committed to allowing the court to determine the legal issues and would respect the eventual judgment.
Similarly, Mr Victor Olamide, Legal Adviser to Hunye, said the aspirant wanted the court to take its course and urged the APC to respect the eventual outcome of the judicial process.
“We believe in the court judgment and the party should respect whatever decision the court eventually reaches.
“Any reconciliation outside the court on the matter will not be entertained,” Olamide said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports APC maintains that Hunye was suspended on April 7 and that Adeola remained its governorship candidate. (NAN).
Edited by Buhari Bolaji