Fresh controversy has hit the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Oyo State as an aspirant for the House of Representatives ticket for Oyo Federal Constituency, Hon. Busari Basit Babatunde, has formally petitioned the party’s national leadership over alleged widespread irregularities, electoral misconduct, and attempts to manipulate the outcome of the party’s primary election.
In a petition submitted through his legal representatives, Lawbridge Partners, and addressed to ADC National Chairman, Senator David Mark, National Secretary, Engr. Rauf Aregbesola, as well as the party’s Oyo State Primary Election Appeals Committee, Babatunde accused party officials and unnamed political actors of undermining internal democracy during the primary election held on Thursday, May 21, 2026.
The petition alleged that the exercise was marred by the complete absence of officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security personnel across several voting centres, creating what the petitioner described as an atmosphere vulnerable to intimidation, disorder, and procedural abuse. According to the document, the party’s electoral committee and its designated chairman also failed to appear for the conduct and supervision of the primary, leaving party members confused and raising serious questions about the legitimacy of the exercise.
Babatunde further alleged that improper and non-transparent voting procedures were adopted in several areas, while elections reportedly failed to hold in some wards within Oyo West Local Government Area and Oyo East Local Government Area, effectively disenfranchising eligible voters. One of the affected wards, the petition noted, included that of the party’s State Youth Leader, deepening concerns over the credibility and completeness of the process.
The petitioner also raised alarm over what he described as a pre-determined allocation of votes before the commencement of the election. He claimed that reports had emerged of certain individuals allegedly preparing and assigning figures ahead of the exercise, with discrepancies later observed between actual voting patterns and figures being circulated by some party officials. Babatunde said his team is prepared to submit video recordings, photographs, eyewitness testimonies, and other documentary evidence to support the allegations.
Central to the petition is an accusation of an attempt to impose a preferred candidate on the constituency, with concerns specifically raised over the alleged undue influence of Hon. Kamil Akinlabi in the primary process. Babatunde maintained that independent reports collated by his agents and supporters across Afijio, Atiba, Oyo East, and Oyo West indicate that he secured the majority of lawful votes cast during the election.
The petition also criticized the party’s failure to officially declare the results after voting had concluded, alleging that relevant officials became unreachable and refused to provide clarity on the status of the outcome. According to Babatunde, the Oyo State chapter of the ADC has equally failed to communicate the constitution and operational details of the Appeals Committee, raising fears that legitimate complaints are being deliberately frustrated.
Warning of possible political fallout, the aspirant said any attempt to impose an unpopular candidate against the wishes of party members could trigger internal division, loss of public confidence, and serious damage to the party’s electoral fortunes in Oyo Federal Constituency. He therefore urged the national leadership to immediately investigate the conduct of the primary, review all evidence, ensure no candidate is imposed, and declare the true winner based on lawful and verifiable votes.
Despite the tensions, Babatunde reaffirmed his commitment to peace, party unity, and democratic principles, expressing hope that the ADC leadership would intervene decisively to preserve the integrity of the party’s internal electoral process.