A leaked internal memo from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives primary election for Ibadan-North Federal Constituency, scheduled for Saturday, July 19, 2025, did not take place.
The memo, dated July 21, 2025, and addressed to the Director of Election and Party Monitoring at INEC headquarters in Abuja, was signed by Rosemary Alaba Adeniyi, the Acting Administrative Secretary for the Oyo State office of the Commission. It officially states that the scheduled APC primary election did not hold.
In addition, the report noted that efforts by INEC officials to monitor the election pursuant to a prior notification from the party were unsuccessful. Another internal communication, signed by Kehinde Omisile, Acting Head of Department, Election and Party Monitoring (EPM), confirmed that attempts to observe the primary as planned proved abortive.
Despite the clarity of the documents, the situation took a confusing turn when INEC’s Oyo State office, according to sources, claimed ignorance of the memo, even though it bore the signature of a known official. The contradiction has raised concerns over the transparency and coordination within the electoral body’s state structure.
The development casts uncertainty over the legitimacy of any candidate that may be announced by the APC as its flagbearer for the upcoming bye-election in the constituency. It also heightens the scrutiny on the party’s internal electoral processes, particularly in Oyo State.
Political observers say the leaked memo could lead to legal challenges or demands for a rescheduled primary, especially if stakeholders within the constituency contest the integrity of any purported outcomes.
As at press time, neither the Oyo State chapter of the APC nor the national leadership of the party had issued an official response to the revelations. INEC headquarters has also yet to make a public statement regarding the leaked memo.
