By Asaye Bankole
Aiyedatiwa Denies Asking APC Candidates to Contest on Other Parties’ Platforms
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has dismissed allegations that he asked any candidate or member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to contest the 2027 elections under the platform of another political party.
Aiyedatiwa made the clarification on Monday in Akure during a meeting with the APC chairmen from the 18 local government areas and 203 wards across the state.
The governor said his administration had zero tolerance for anti-party activities and urged APC members to remain loyal to the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He described claims that he was secretly encouraging APC members to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or other opposition parties as false and unfounded.
“I have zero tolerance for anti-party. I have never engaged in anti-party in my life,” Aiyedatiwa said.
He added, “I have not told any candidate to go and contest in another party. So, no to anti-party. Let’s support Mr President and all the candidates of our party.”
The governor called on the party’s grassroots leaders to intensify mobilisation efforts ahead of the 2027 elections, stressing that ward structures would play a major role in determining the party’s success at the polls.
“Elections are won at the polling units, and the polling units are right there in the ward. You are the ward chairmen, and you occupy a very important position in the party structure,” he said.
Aiyedatiwa also directed ward chairmen and secretaries to hold regular meetings and bring party leaders together at the grassroots to discuss party affairs and strategies for the 2027 elections.
He said the meetings should focus mainly on strengthening the APC and mobilising support for its candidates, while warning members against actions that could weaken the party’s chances at the polls.
The governor described those accusing him of engaging in anti-party activities as “naysayers, blackmailers and slanderers,” insisting that his political history demonstrated his loyalty to the progressive political movement.
He recalled that when the Labour Party controlled the state and the PDP was dominant in his senatorial district and local government, he chose to join the Alliance for Democracy/Action Congress of Nigeria, despite the party being outside government at the time.
Aiyedatiwa also recalled his experience during the 2019 APC primary election, saying he won the exercise but that the outcome was later overturned by the party leadership in Abuja.
According to him, the experience taught him the importance of respecting decisions taken by the party leadership. He said he had since supported aspirants in line with decisions reached after consultations within the party.
Earlier, the APC state chairman, Babatunde Kolawole, appealed to party members to remain loyal to Governor Aiyedatiwa and the APC, describing the governor as the leader of the party in the state.
Kolawole warned that members found guilty of anti-party activities would face disciplinary measures, saying the party leadership had received intelligence concerning alleged acts of disloyalty.
He expressed confidence that the APC would emerge victorious in the presidential, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections in Ondo State in 2027.
The chairman also commended Aiyedatiwa for strengthening the party’s structures, including the State Executive Committee, Caucus and Elders Council, as well as approving regular meetings at the ward level.
Kolawole further praised the governor for approving a 100 per cent increase in the allowances of ward and local government party chairmen, while allowances for state party executives were also reviewed upward.
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