The Coalition of Civil Society Groups (COCSG) has issued an urgent plea to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, calling for his direct intervention in what they describe as a deepening internal crisis within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State. The coalition alleges that the party leadership has undemocratically imposed Governor Biodun Oyebanji as a "consensus candidate" for the upcoming state governorship election, bypassing due process and internal democratic principles.

In a strongly worded statement, jointly signed by prominent leaders including Comrade Oladimeji Olakunle Olatunji, President of COCSG; Okpanachi Jacob, Secretary; Kennedy Tabuko, Public Relations Officer; and other allied organizational heads, the coalition characterized the purported selection as a "kangaroo selection" and a profound "betrayal of internal democracy" within the ruling party. The statement, released to journalists in Abuja yesterday, underscored their belief that such an imposition signifies a "failure of leadership" within the APC.

The COCSG specifically urged President Tinubu, revered as the "father of the party," to act swiftly to prevent the APC from internal collapse. Their demands include the immediate reinstatement of all aspirants who were reportedly disqualified from the party’s screening process, arguing that their exclusion was fundamentally undemocratic. Furthermore, the coalition called for the establishment of an independent reconciliation and review panel to restore confidence, foster unity, and ensure fairness within the Ekiti State chapter of the APC.

Beyond the immediate concerns in Ekiti, the civil society groups warned against setting a perilous precedent. They asserted, "Beyond Ekiti, we see this as a dangerous precedent that must not be allowed to spread across other states. If internal democracy dies at the party level, then national democracy is under direct attack." The coalition expressed grave concern that allowing such alleged impositions could undermine the democratic fabric nationwide and inadvertently steer Nigeria towards a one-party system, emphasizing that democracy must be strengthened beyond mere rhetoric.

The COCSG also highlighted the potential adverse consequences of the unresolved crisis for the APC's future electoral performance and President Tinubu's political standing. They stressed that Ekiti is known as a "politically conscious state of intelligentsia," and any attempt to subvert the will of its people would inevitably lead to "resentment, division, and rejection at the polls." The coalition reaffirmed its commitment as a civil society advocate, vowing to "continue to monitor, engage, and advocate for fairness and justice in the electoral and governance processes," pledging not to relent until justice is served in Ekiti.