• Governor denies asking aggrieved members to contest on other platforms
• Ondo APC chairmen told to mobilise grassroots support for party
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has denied reports that he encouraged aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to contest the 2027 elections on the platforms of other political parties.
Aiyedatiwa dismissed the allegation as false, describing it as a campaign of blackmail allegedly being promoted by his political opponents.
The governor, who declared zero tolerance for anti-party activities within the APC, urged members to remain loyal to the party and support its candidates in the 2027 general elections.
He spoke on Monday at a stakeholders’ meeting with APC local government and ward chairmen in Akure, where he charged the party’s grassroots structure to mobilise voters and work towards victory at the polls.
Aiyedatiwa described the chairmen of the 18 local government areas and 203 wards as critical to the party’s electoral success, stressing that elections are ultimately won at the polling units.
“Elections are won at the polling units. And the polling units are right there in the ward. And you are the ward chairmen. Very, very important. You are occupying a significant role in party structure,” he said.
The governor directed all ward chairmen and secretaries to hold regular meetings and bring party leaders together to deliberate on the affairs of the party and preparations for the 2027 elections.
He said mobilisation should be the major focus of the meetings, but warned that such activities must not be accompanied by anti-party conduct.
Addressing allegations that he was personally involved in anti-party activities, Aiyedatiwa described his accusers as “naysayers, blackmailers and slanderers”.
“I have zero tolerance for anti-party. I have never engaged in anti-party in my life,” he declared.
The governor recalled his political journey, saying his history demonstrated his commitment to the progressive political camp.
He noted that at a time when the Labour Party was in government and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was politically strong in Ondo State, particularly in his senatorial district and local government, he chose to join the Alliance for Democracy (AD/ACN), despite the party being outside government.
Aiyedatiwa also recalled his political experiences between 2010 and 2020, including his emergence as deputy governor and the controversy surrounding the 2019 APC primary election.
He said although he won the primary, the party leadership in Abuja later overturned the result, maintaining that the party leadership was supreme.
According to him, the experience strengthened his belief in party discipline and the need for members to respect decisions reached by the leadership.
He also cited instances where he supported aspirants based on decisions reached by party leaders after consultations, stressing that loyalty and discipline remained essential to the survival of the party.
Aiyedatiwa further rejected allegations that his administration was sponsoring APC members to defect to the PDP or other political parties.
“So, no to anti-party. That’s what I’m trying to say. Let’s support Mr President and all the candidates of our party,” he said.
The governor commended APC leaders for their feedback on government projects and programmes, describing their assessment as “very, very encouraging”.
He said the feedback would motivate his administration to intensify efforts and accelerate the completion of ongoing projects across the state.
Earlier, the Ondo State APC Chairman, Hon. Babatunde Kolawole, called for total loyalty to Governor Aiyedatiwa and the party.
Kolawole urged local government and ward chairmen to support all APC candidates, saying the governor had directed the party to work towards 100 per cent support for its candidates.
He also warned that the party would not tolerate anti-party activities, saying the leadership had gathered intelligence on alleged acts of disloyalty and that anyone found culpable would face the appropriate consequences.
The chairman expressed confidence that the APC would win the 2027 presidential, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections in the state.
Speaking on behalf of the 18 local government chairmen, Oluwadare Fadumo commended Aiyedatiwa for what he described as unprecedented support for local councils and residents.
Fadumo said government projects and empowerment programmes had positively impacted market women and youths, while increased allowances for party chairmen had also generated excitement among party members.
“We want to thank you because this is the first time this is happening in the history of politics in Ondo State,” he said.
