𝗔𝗣𝗖 𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗢 𝗢𝗡 𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗚𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗔𝗦 𝗠𝗔𝗝𝗢𝗥 𝗣𝗢𝗪𝗘𝗥 𝗕𝗟𝗢𝗖𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗡 𝗕𝗢𝗬𝗖𝗢𝗧𝗧, 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗟 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗚𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗠𝗦.

𝗔𝗣𝗖 𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗢 𝗢𝗡 𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗚𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗔𝗦 𝗠𝗔𝗝𝗢𝗥 𝗣𝗢𝗪𝗘𝗥 𝗕𝗟𝗢𝗖𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗡 𝗕𝗢𝗬𝗖𝗢𝗧𝗧, 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗟 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗚𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗠𝗦.

𝗕𝗬 𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗧𝗔 𝗩𝗢𝗜𝗖𝗘,

11𝘁𝗵 𝗙𝗲𝗯. 2026.

Tension is rapidly escalating within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State ahead of the party’s forthcoming congresses, as a growing bloc of influential stakeholders threatens to boycott the exercise over alleged plans by loyalists of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to hijack the process.

More alarming is the reported emergence of powerful Abuja-based forces allegedly preparing to conduct a parallel congress in the state — a development that could plunge the party into a full-blown internal crisis.

According to the timetable issued by the APC national leadership, ward congresses are expected to commence nationwide on February 18. However, multiple party sources claim that the Ondo congresses may be heading toward chaos, following allegations that the governor’s camp has already compiled lists of prospective ward, local government, and state executives without broad consultation.

Sources within the party allege that the exercise is being driven by Governor Aiyedatiwa’s political loyalists, including members of his cabinet and the 18 local government chairmen, who reportedly drafted the leadership structure in advance.

Those said to be sidelined include supporters of the late former governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN; members of the State and National Assemblies; and top federal figures such as the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and the Minister of State for Youth Development, Engr. Olawande Ayodele, alongside other major party stakeholders.

In a further twist, it was also reported — though not independently confirmed — that the APC South-west National Vice Chairman, Dr Isaac Kekemeke, who hails from Ondo State, was not involved in the alleged compilation of the list.

GOVERNOR DENIES EXCLUSION, INSISTS PROCESS IS CONSENSUS-BASED

Reacting to the growing allegations, Governor Aiyedatiwa, through his Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, dismissed claims of exclusion, insisting that no party leader was shut out of the process.

Adeniyan maintained that ward leaders are responsible for selecting their executives through consensus.

“Not true. All ward leaders are responsible for selecting their officers through consensus. That of my ward was done yesterday, and all the leaders in the ward signed. Nobody has been excluded,” he said.

‘CRISIS IS BREWING’ — APC INSIDER WARNS OF IMPLOSION

However, a top party leader who spoke anonymously contradicted the governor’s camp, claiming that the compilation of the list was allegedly coordinated by one of the governor’s special advisers.

The source warned that the party was sitting on a ticking time bomb.

“The party at the national level must pay closer attention to Ondo State. A crisis is brewing, and if care is not taken, it may split the party and negatively affect its chances in the 2027 general elections,” the source said.

He alleged that many long-standing party leaders are increasingly resentful over what they described as the governor’s determination to take full control of the party structure.

“Several party leaders are unhappy with the way the governor is trying to dominate the party. The reason this crisis is not yet in the public domain is that most of the aggrieved leaders are staunch loyalists of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and they do not want anything that could jeopardise the President’s re-election bid,” the source added.

‘FOUNDING LEADERS BEING PUSHED ASIDE’

The party chieftain further alleged that founding figures of the APC in Ondo State are being treated as political outsiders, while commissioners and government appointees are allegedly being positioned as new party power brokers.

“How can the governor direct his commissioners to compile an exco list for us who brought the APC to the state? We were beaten, insulted and despised for aligning with the APC when the party started,” the source lamented.

“But what we are seeing today is a situation whereby the governor has imposed his inexperienced commissioners as leaders over those of us who toiled day and night in 2013 to give birth to what we are enjoying today.”

He warned that if urgent intervention is not made, parallel congresses may become inevitable.

“If necessary steps are not taken by appropriate leaders urgently, we are already going the way of organising parallel congresses in the state,” he stated.

AIYEDATIWA VS TUNJI-OJO RIVALRY FUELS INTERNAL DIVIDE

Party insiders also linked the brewing crisis to the growing political rivalry between Governor Aiyedatiwa and the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, over control of the APC structure in the state.

Tunji-Ojo, widely regarded as a major financier of several political support groups working toward President Tinubu’s re-election, is reportedly being accused by the governor’s loyalists of using those platforms to politically “outshine” the governor and consolidate influence ahead of 2027.

PARALLEL CONGRESSES, COURT BATTLES FEARED

Another party source described the calm in Ondo APC as “deceptive,” warning that the state could soon witness a political breakdown if consensus is not achieved.

“To the general public, the APC in Ondo State may appear peaceful, but the truth is that all is not well. If the governor refuses to concede some party executive positions to other leaders, parallel congresses are inevitable. Ultimately, the courts may be left to decide which congress is authentic,” the source warned.

The source urged the national leadership of the APC to urgently step in to prevent what could become one of the party’s most damaging internal conflicts ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“We hope the national leadership of the party will ensure fairness and allow free and credible congresses. That remains the only way to insulate the party from the crisis and strengthen its prospects ahead of the 2027 general elections,” the source concluded.