IBARAPA CENTRAL & NORTH APC REPS PRIMARY: Will Delegates Decide, or Has the Decision Already Been Made?

The clock is ticking toward tomorrow’s APC House of Representatives primary in Ibarapa Central and Ibarapa North, but behind the calm public statements, a quiet battle is raging. Information reaching _Asako News_ indicates that moves are underway to impose a candidate, with Hon. Dr. Bar. Muraina Ajibola named as the likely choice.

Other aspirants are pushing back hard, arguing that Ajibola was similarly imposed in the last election and lost, and insisting that delegates must be allowed a free choice this time.

With delegates set to converge in the next 24 hours, the real question is no longer who is on the ballot, but who actually holds the power to decide. Will it be the delegates on the ground, or will the process be decided behind closed doors?

The suspense is no longer about the candidates. It’s about whether the APC will let democracy play out, or repeat the script that cost it the seat last time.

A Contest that Settled the Zoning Debate
For weeks, the race has kept the zone on edge. For a constituency where debates over zoning between Ibarapa Central and Ibarapa North often dominate, this cycle has settled that argument before the first ballot is cast. Aspirants have emerged from both local government areas, making it clear that competence, not geography, will shape the race.

Six aspirants now stand on the ballot, each with a record and a base:
1. Hon. Dr. Bar. Muraina Ajibola – Three-term former member of the House of Representatives, with legislative experience and national connections.
2. Hon. Sarafa Olaoniye– Former Caretaker Chairman of Ibarapa Central Local Government and businessman, with grassroots administrative credentials.
3. Eng. Tunde Bello – A reputable Civil Engineer with a strong leadership acumen and former house of representatives aspirant.
4. Engr. Olusegun Okanlawon – Civil engineer and philanthropist, known for community development projects across the zone.
5. Bar. Opeyemi Tijani– Constitutional lawyer and Baamofin of Igangan, representing the legal and traditional voice of the people.
6. Engr. Saheed Oladele – Engineer and political stakeholder, with his own network and track record.

On paper, this is the strongest field Ibarapa APC has produced in recent memory. On the ground, it means delegates will face a real choice, not a coronation.

The Imposition Rumour and the Counter-Push:

Rumours have swirled that Bar. Muraina Ajibola, holds an advantage due to a list from the party’s top hierarchy and his influence at the Presidency. But an investigation by _Asako News_ shows that the other aspirants also have direct access and strong backing within the APC’s national structure. If there was ever a time to speak of a “level playing field,” this is it.

That’s why the alleged push for imposition has sparked resistance. Other aspirants argue that imposing a candidate now would ignore the will of the delegates and repeat the mistake of 2023, when a similar move ended in defeat at the polls. Their stance has turned the primary into a test of internal democracy within APC Ibarapa.

What’s at Stake Tomorrow?

The delegates hold the power to set the tone for APC’s 2027 campaign in Ibarapa. A credible, transparent process will unite the party and energize the base. A flawed process will hand the opposition an easy narrative and weaken the party before the main contest begins.

Beyond party politics, the outcome will affect governance in the zone.