Thirty-three chairmanship and 351 councillorship candidates of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Oyo State have dragged the party before the Federal High Court in Ibadan over reports of a fresh primary election for the forthcoming local government elections.

The plaintiffs emerged as candidates from the APM local government and councillorship primaries conducted across the state on August 3, 2026. They are seeking to stop the party from conducting another primary for the same positions.

Court documents show that the August 3 primaries were monitored by the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC), with the results subsequently submitted to the commission. The candidates stated that the suit became necessary following reports that the APM National Chairman was seeking to have the earlier primaries nullified and another set of primaries conducted.

The legal action follows the emergence of factional candidates within the party. Candidates backed by an Oyo State party chieftain, Alhaji Bisi Olopoeyan, reportedly emerged in competition with candidates backed by Governor Seyi Makinde.

The plaintiffs are asking the court to determine whether OYSIEC can accept or recognise more than one candidate nominated by the APM for the same local government or ward after monitoring the August 3 primaries. They are also challenging the possibility of OYSIEC monitoring another APM primary for the same positions.

Furthermore, the candidates want the court to determine whether individuals whose names were not contained in the party’s membership register submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) within the prescribed period can participate in party primaries.

The suit lists the Allied Peoples Movement, its National Chairman, OYSIEC, and INEC as defendants as the dispute over the party's candidates for the local government elections continues.