Former presidential aide, Ibrahim Olarewaju, has pushed back against allegations that he breached electoral rules by contesting the All Progressives Congress primary for the Ekiti North Federal Constituency II seat without first leaving office.
Olarewaju, who served as Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on National Assembly Matters, insisted that he complied with every legal and Party requirement before taking part in the APC primary election held in May.
His media office also maintained that the former House of Representatives member secured victory in the primary as a result of years of grassroots mobilisation, accessibility and commitment to the people, stressing that the exercise was conducted transparently and in line with APC guidelines.
In a statement issued in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday by Moses Owoyemi on behalf of the media team, the former lawmaker was said to have fulfilled all constitutional, legal and Party conditions before entering the race.
Owoyemi stated, “His resignation as Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters took effect on March 31, 2026, in compliance with the directive requiring political appointees seeking elective office to step down from their positions.
“It is incorrect and misleading to suggest that Olarewaju’s participation in the primary election violated any provision of the law. Allegations, no matter how loudly repeated, do not amount to evidence.”
Responding to reports alleging that the former presidential aide failed to resign before contesting, the media office described his resignation as a matter of public record that could be independently verified through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and media reports.
The statement added that Olarewaju’s career in legal practice and public service had been defined by integrity, transparency and respect for due process.
“Those who know him understand that he has never pursued public office by circumventing established legal processes,” the statement said.
According to the media office, the outcome of the APC primary reflected the wishes of accredited delegates across Moba, Ilejemeje and Ido-Osi Local Government Areas, where Olarewaju emerged victorious.
It also commended Party leaders, delegates and members for conducting themselves peacefully during the exercise and praised other aspirants for accepting the outcome in the interest of Party unity.
The statement further noted that Olarewaju remained focused on reconciling stakeholders within the APC and positioning the Party for victory in the 2027 general election.
It added that politics should be driven by ideas, service delivery and respect for democratic principles rather than misinformation or attempts to undermine the decision of Party delegates.
The media office urged members of the public to ignore claims not backed by verifiable evidence, expressing confidence in the APC’s internal democratic structures and the ability of the appropriate Party organs to resolve legitimate disputes fairly and transparently.
“The APC in Ekiti North Federal Constituency II is bigger than the ambition of any individual. This is the time to close ranks, strengthen Party unity and work together to deliver greater dividends of democracy to the people,” the statement added.
While acknowledging that disappointed aspirants and their supporters often express grievances after elections, the media office advised that such complaints should be addressed through the Party’s internal mechanisms and, where necessary, through appropriate legal channels rather than media campaigns capable of deepening divisions within the APC.
