Ondo APC Denies Crisis, Pledges Unity Ahead of 2027 Elections

The Ondo APC has publicly dismissed any notion of internal discord, with State Chairman Babatunde Kolawole stressing that the party is from here as a single political family as the 2027 general election draws near. Speaking at the NUJ Press Centre in Akure on Friday, Kolawole said the reconciliation drive that began after the recent party congress is bearing fruit and that no member has been left out of the process. He added that the absence of a governorship contest in Ondo State for 2027 removes any immediate source of rivalry, allowing the party to focus on the national ballot where President Bola Tinubu stands as the sole APC candidate.

Kolawole’s remarks were reinforced by Victor Olabimtan, the Director‑General of the APC Presidential Campaign in the state. Olabimtan explained that a reconciliation committee, formed soon after the congress, has been travelling across the country to engage party organs, interest groups and individual members. He mentioned trips to Abuja and Lagos, as well as outreach to other regions, aimed at bringing estranged leaders back into the fold. Olabimtan pointed to the recent presidential campaign rally in Ondo where previously distant figures such as Wale Akinterinwa and Oladunni Odu took part, using their presence as evidence that the effort to heal divisions is succeeding.

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“The governor has made unifying all tendencies a top priority since he became chairman,” Olabimtan said, referring to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who also holds the party chairmanship. He argued that President Tinubu’s emergence as the party’s only presidential hopeful offers a clear incentive for members to set aside past differences and rally behind a common agenda. “Nobody is left out. All we need to do is to ensure that we put more effort into strengthening the existing unity that we are all enjoying in the party today,” he added.

Women’s Affairs Commissioner Seun Osamaye introduced a gender‑focused angle to the party’s outreach. She pledged the backing of Ondo women for Tinubu’s re‑election, describing a united front and collective mobilisation as essential to reaching the “one million votes” target the party has set for the president on 16 January 2027. Osamaye linked the expected support to more than twenty interventions under the federal Renewed Hope initiative, noting programmes that have distributed 10,000 professional kits to nurses and healthcare assistants, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, youth agribusiness schemes and the Every Home Garden project.

She emphasized that these interventions have opened government resources to a broader segment of the population, allowing thousands of women to benefit without having to lobby or plead for assistance. “For the first time, government is not for the privileged few. Many women now benefit without having to beg or lobby,” she said. By highlighting these gains, Osamaye suggested that the tangible impact of federal programmes will translate into massive voter turnout for the APC in the upcoming presidential contest.

Addressing concerns about political violence, APC chieftain Olusola Oke dismissed allegations of thuggery in the state. He asserted that Ondo remains peaceful and that no opposition members have been attacked by political thugs. Oke praised the vigilance of state media, noting its role in extending discussions beyond the campaign rally to broader political dynamics across Nigeria. While acknowledging reports of violence elsewhere, he attributed those incidents to opposition against the president’s reforms and to individuals who fear losing relevance under Tinubu’s administration.

Oke expressed confidence that security agencies would neutralise any rogue elements and commended Governor Aiyedatiwa, who also serves as the state’s Chief Security Officer, for maintaining order. “The overwhelming support for Tinubu among local parties leaves little room for unrest,” he remarked, underscoring the party’s belief that a harmonious environment will prevail as the election calendar advances.

The statements from the party’s leadership illustrate a coordinated strategy that blends reconciliation, gender mobilisation and a narrative of peace. By positioning the governor’s stewardship and the national chair’s backing as pillars of unity, the APC aims to convert internal cohesion into electoral victories at every level, presidential, senatorial, and legislative.

In the broader Nigerian context, the APC’s emphasis on unity reflects a common challenge for the ruling party, which has faced factional disputes in several states since the 2023 elections. Ondo’s approach, anchored on the promise of federal programmes and the appeal of President Tinubu’s incumbency, seeks to differentiate the state’s political climate from regions where intra‑party rivalries have spilled into public confrontations.

Looking ahead, the party plans to continue its outreach to remaining sceptics, deepen campaign activities across the state and keep a close watch on security dynamics as the election timetable progresses. The next major milestone will be the mobilisation of women’s groups and grassroots networks ahead of the presidential vote in January 2027, a phase that will test the effectiveness of the reconciliation and outreach efforts highlighted by Kolawole, Olabimtan and Osamaye.