APC Faces Fresh Storm

The All Progressives Congress (APC) is facing fresh internal tensions following allegations that some aggrieved governors may be backing opposition candidates after their preferred aspirants failed to secure the party’s tickets for the 2027 elections.

The allegation was raised by the Oodua Progressive Youths League (OPYL), a South-West support group within the APC.

According to the group, some governors became dissatisfied after their preferred aspirants lost during the National Assembly primaries and allegedly encouraged some of them to obtain tickets from opposition parties and contest against APC candidates.

The group further alleged that the development may involve an attempt to influence the selection of polling agents by encouraging opposition candidates to nominate individuals who remain APC members.

It claimed that the names of such individuals could subsequently be submitted to the APC National Secretariat in Abuja as agents of the ruling party.

The allegation has generated particular attention in Ondo State, where Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has been accused by some party members of supporting politicians contesting outside the APC.

Aiyedatiwa has repeatedly denied the allegations.

Speaking at a meeting with APC local government and ward chairmen in Akure, the governor dismissed claims that he was involved in anti-party activities and urged party members to support APC candidates.

“Some people are spreading falsehoods against me. I did not ask any candidate to contest in any other party; it is all lies,” he said.

He also declared that he had “zero tolerance for anti-party activities” and called on APC members to support President Bola Tinubu and other candidates of the party.

The governor stressed the importance of grassroots mobilisation, noting that elections are ultimately decided at polling units.

However, a party source accused the governor of being “disingenuous” and alleged that his political activities and those of his supporters were aimed at creating a parallel political structure.

The source specifically cited the appointment of about 1,000 Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants, alleging that the appointments had helped strengthen the governor’s political network.

The source further claimed that the structure was being deployed in support of the political arrangement known as the Rainbow Coalition.

These allegations have not been independently established, while Aiyedatiwa has maintained that he remains committed to the APC.

Several politicians were also mentioned in the allegations, including Matthew Oyerinmade, popularly known as MATO, who is contesting the Ondo South Senatorial District seat on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Prince Idowu Mafimisebi, the PDP candidate for Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency, was also mentioned.

Tajudeen Akinfisoye, popularly known as Small Alhaji, was another name cited. He lost the APC ticket for Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency and, according to the source, was allegedly directed to seek the Social Democratic Party (SDP) ticket.

The source also questioned the political relationship between Governor Aiyedatiwa and Senator Ayo Akinyelure, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate for Ondo Central Senatorial District.

It raised concerns over whether any support for Akinyelure could affect the APC’s candidate for the district, Senator Niyi Adegbonmire, SAN.

The allegations also extended to polling-agent arrangements involving several candidates.

Among those mentioned were Oyerinmade, Mafimisebi, Akinfisoye, Akinyelure and Chief Alex Ajipe, the Ondo North senatorial candidate of the Democratic Leadership Alliance.

Hon. Abiola Makinde, who represents Ondo West/Ondo East Federal Constituency and is challenging in court the outcome of the APC primary that produced Dr Michael Ajilo, was also mentioned.

The source alleged that Makinde had been directed to submit names of agents for his constituency, claiming that the names could eventually be forwarded to the APC National Secretariat as APC agents.

The allegations have added another layer to the political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 elections, with questions now being raised over internal party loyalty, competing political structures and the control of election-day machinery.

For now, the claims remain allegations, and the individuals and political actors named have not been established as having participated in any such arrangement.