NASS APC Primaries: Aiyedatiwa Allegedly Weighs Options As Ondo Party Exco May Face Sanctions

BY CHIBUZO UKAIBE and DAMILOLA ORIGBEMISUYI

Indications have emerged that the Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, is considering fresh options for his loyalists who were dropped by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) following a review of the outcome of the National Assembly primaries.

The action denied the governor’s loyalists APC tickets, who had earlier claimed victory in the primaries.

The APC NWC, relying on the report of its Appeal Committee, returned seven serving House of Representatives members and two senators by granting them the party’s tickets for the 2027 elections.

Piqued by the development, an impeccable source confided in our correspondent that Governor Aiyedatiwa has reportedly initiated moves to woo the leadership of an opposition party in the State to field his loyalists who were denied tickets. However, as of press time, it remained unclear which opposition party the governor intended to adopt.

But when asked by LEADERSHIP about his alleged plan to secure an alternative platform for his loyalists, Governor Aiyedatiwa, yesterday, declined to comment on the issue, stressing that he would not speak on the APC primaries for now.

Reacting through his Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, the governor told LEADERSHIP: “No comment on the primary outcome for now.”

However, a close ally of the governor, who pleaded not to be named, blamed the President and the APC National Chairman for “causing problems in Ondo State.”

“Let’s call a spade a spade. We should blame Mr President for causing problems for us in Ondo State. They have the powers at the NWC level and say they are acting with the President’s approval. But they should know we have options for those denied tickets.

“There are other parties that have even offered their platforms because the Supreme Court judgment has already settled the matter that political parties have the sole responsibility to determine and sponsor candidates. We are looking at it, and I pray we don’t get to that point,” he said.

This development comes on the heels of reports that the APC national leadership is considering disciplinary action against some members of the Ondo State Executive Committee over their alleged involvement in protests against the party’s NWC following its decision to review the National Assembly primaries.

The Ondo State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Seun Osamaye, and the APC State Woman Leader, Mrs Ayole Iji, had led a group of women in protest against the outcome of the APC National Assembly primaries.

The protesters, led by Mrs Osamaye, also blocked the Akure-Ilesha Expressway while carrying placards with inscriptions such as: “We reject the imposition of candidates in Ondo” and “APC NWC can’t impose unpopular candidates on us in Ondo.”

A source at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja said the NWC was displeased with the Ondo State Chairman of the party, Hon. Kolawole Babatunde, for allegedly allowing the situation to deteriorate to the point where members of the state executive were accused of sponsoring protests against President Tinubu and the party.

According to the source, the APC leadership views the protests as an act of indiscipline that could undermine the party and embarrass the President.

A senior party source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said:

“We are aware that these party executive members are acting out the script of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa. It is disheartening that Aiyedatiwa, who has enjoyed the benevolence of not only the party but also President Tinubu, would allow his supporters to protest against his benefactors.

“It is even more embarrassing that the state chairman of the party appears unable to rein in members of his executive to the extent that the State Woman Leader has been fingered in connection with the anti-Tinubu protest.

“The party is compiling reports on those allegedly involved. Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken against anyone found to have acted contrary to the party’s constitution.”