A House of Representatives aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ondo State, Fajimirokun Ajayi, has alleged that she was dismissed as “Omokekere,” meaning a young child, during the party’s primary election for the Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo/Odigbo Federal Constituency.
Ajayi, who is seeking to represent the constituency currently occupied by Hon. Festus Ayodele Adefiranye, made the remarks while speaking on Channels Television.
She warned that the APC could suffer electoral defeat in Ondo State if the national leadership of the party fails to declare what she described as the rightful winner of the primary election.
According to her, many party members underestimated her chances in the race because of her background and perceived lack of political structure within the state.
“I was dismissed as ‘Omokekere,’ this young child from Abuja that just wants to come to Ondo. She’s not known,” she said.
Ajayi maintained that despite the criticism, she proved her strength at the grassroots level during the exercise.
Addressing her challengers, she said, “You said we should go to the field, we went to the field and we defeated you in Odigbo, the largest local government, where most of the votes come from.”
Speaking on the outcome of the primary, the aspirant disclosed that no candidate had officially been announced yet, explaining that the party’s national leadership directed that results should not be declared at the state level.
“No candidate has been announced because they were given a directive by the national body, national secretary and the organizing secretary, that all announcements should stop at the state level, and announcements will be made at the National,” she stated.
Ajayi expressed confidence that the APC leadership would eventually make what she described as the right decision based on facts and the actual outcome of the exercise.
“So, I believe it would be evidence versus reality, magic numbers versus who has played their game right. Because really, whether consensus, whether direct primaries, you have to put yourself forward with the stakeholders and ensure grassroots. I mean, that’s why it’s a game,” she added.
She further stressed the importance of grassroots mobilization, insisting that popularity at both the local and national levels remains critical in party politics.
“You don’t stay in one place and say you are popular. Are you popular at the national? I think that’s the game we’ve tried to play, and I think we’ve done both at the top and at the grassroots,” she said.
Ajayi warned that failure by the APC leadership to handle the situation properly could negatively affect the party’s fortunes in the 2027 elections.
“It’s now for the national to do the needful lest states like Ondo State that APC lost in 2019 will go that way in 2027,” she said.
