Popular Journalist, Hon. Olushola Arike Ayekoto Emerges ADC Candidate for Alimosho Federal Constituency

Joy and celebration filled the air for popular broadcaster and veteran journalist, Olushola Arike Ayekoto, after emerging as the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the House of Representatives seat representing Alimosho ahead of the 2027 general elections.

At the party’s primary election held last week, the prominent female politician defeated her co-contender, Hon. Mojeed Anjolaiya, by a wide margin to secure the party’s ticket.

Although several political developments and consultations had earlier taken place within the ADC concerning who would eventually fly the party’s flag for the federal constituency seat, the contest was finally decided at the primary election where Arike emerged victorious.

Speaking after the exercise, members of the ADC in Alimosho expressed confidence in her leadership ability and political experience, describing her as a capable and grassroots-oriented personality who possesses the qualities needed to effectively represent the people at the National Assembly in Abuja.

Party faithful also noted that her long-standing experience as a professional journalist and public commentator has positioned her as someone who understands the needs and challenges of the people.

Following her emergence, Hon. Arike Olushola expressed deep appreciation to the people of Alimosho for their support and confidence in her candidacy.

She also thanked party leaders, elders, and stakeholders within the ADC for giving her the opportunity to represent the party in the forthcoming election.

According to her, she would not disappoint the electorate and assured party members that their trust in her would be justified.

The ADC candidate further appealed to all members of the party to remain united and work together for the overall success of the party at all levels in the 2027 elections, including the presidential, governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives, and state assembly contests.

She expressed confidence that the ADC would record massive victories in 2027, declaring that the party is fully prepared to take over leadership from the ruling party.

Northern Women Group Urges APC To Protect Dankaka’s Senatorial Mandate

A prominent Northern women’s socio-political organisation, Jam’iyyar Matan Arewa, has appealed to the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress to protect the senatorial mandate of Dr. Muheebah Dankaka for Kwara South Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a letter dated May 24, 2026 and addressed to the APC National Chairman in Abuja, the group described Dankaka as the only female senatorial candidate from Northern Nigeria to emerge victorious during the party’s primaries.

The letter, signed by the National President of the group, Hajiya Rabi Musa Saulawa, stated that out of the 109 senatorial seats nationwide, only three women secured APC senatorial tickets, with Dankaka emerging as the sole female candidate from the North.

According to the group, Dankaka’s victory reflected “the strong endorsement of the people” of Kwara South and symbolised renewed hope for greater female representation in the country’s political leadership.

The organisation warned that any attempt to undermine or substitute her candidacy could negatively affect the relationship between Northern women and the ruling party.

The letter partly read, “Any attempt to undermine or substitute her victory will be viewed by Northern women as a painful disregard for their loyalty, sacrifices, and contributions to the growth of the Party.”

The group also recalled its contributions to the APC’s electoral successes in the 2015, 2019 and 2023 general elections through grassroots mobilisation and voter education across the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory.

It further urged the APC leadership to adopt policies that would encourage more competent Northern women to occupy elective and appointive positions, especially in the Senate and other strategic offices.

“We further urge the Party to adopt deliberate and sustained measures aimed at raising more competent Northern women for elective and appointive positions,” the letter added.

The group expressed confidence in the leadership of the APC National Working Committee to uphold what it described as the freely given mandate of Dr. Muheebah Dankaka by the people of Kwara South.

Oyo North Not for Imposition, APC Group Declares in Support of Dr. Gbenga Adegbola

The crisis surrounding the senatorial primary of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo North intensified on Sunday as a group, Oyo North APC Concerned Indigenes Demanding Justice, accused some party stakeholders of attempting to impose a candidate against the wishes of party members.

In a statement issued on May 24, the group insisted that Dr. Gbenga Adegbola emerged victorious in the Oyo North senatorial primary and should be recognised as the authentic candidate of the party for the district.

The statement, jointly signed by former Minority Leader of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Ajekiigbe David Akinwale Bada, and National Chairman of Egbe Ajosepo Fun Itesiwaju Gbogbo Wa, Engr. Olaifa Dauda Alade, warned against any alleged attempt to substitute Adegbola’s name.

According to the group, while candidates had emerged peacefully in Oyo South and Oyo Central Senatorial Districts, the situation in Oyo North had allegedly been complicated by “anti-democratic forces” seeking to influence the outcome of the exercise.

The group specifically alleged that individuals loyal to prominent APC chieftain, Zaccheus Adedeji, were working to overturn the outcome of the primary.

“We state clearly and without equivocation that Dr. Gbenga Adegbola won the Oyo North senatorial primary fair and square. His victory is the authentic expression of the will of our party members and the people of Oyo North,” the statement partly read.

The group called on the APC National Headquarters and the party’s National Working Committee to resist any alleged move to substitute the candidate, insisting that justice and fairness must prevail.

It also appealed to the Presidency to intervene and ensure adherence to democratic principles within the party.

“The same President who has repeatedly called for free, fair, and transparent primaries cannot have his own party subverting the process in his home zone by proxy,” the statement added.

The group further urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognise only the candidate it described as the legitimate winner of the primary.

Warning of possible political consequences, the group said the APC risked losing Oyo North in the general election if the alleged injustice was not addressed promptly.

Efforts to obtain reactions from the APC leadership and other parties mentioned in the statement were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.