I didn’t ask any APC candidate to defect — Aiyedatiwa

By Boye Oyeyemi

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has denied allegations that he directed some All Progressives Congress candidates to defect to other political parties to contest the 2027 general elections.

Aiyedatiwa spoke on Monday while addressing the APC’s 18 local government and 203 ward chairmen at a stakeholders’ meeting in Akure. He said he remained committed to the party and would not support actions capable of weakening its chances in the elections.

Describing the allegations as the handiwork of “naysayers, blackmailers and slanderers,” the governor said he had never engaged in anti-party activities. “I have zero tolerance for anti-party. I have never engaged in anti-party in my life,” he said.

“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,” Aiyedatiwa added.

He urged the party’s grassroots leaders to intensify mobilisation across their wards, noting that election outcomes were largely determined at polling units. He also directed ward chairmen and secretaries to hold regular meetings and work to unite members ahead of the 2027 polls.

The governor, while defending his loyalty to the progressive political camp, recalled joining the Alliance for Democracy and later the Action Congress of Nigeria when the parties were out of power, despite the strength of the Peoples Democratic Party and Labour Party at the time. He also cited his experience during the APC’s 2019 primary as evidence of his commitment to respecting party decisions.

In his remarks, APC state Chairman, Babatunde Kolawole, urged members to rally behind Aiyedatiwa and all the party’s candidates. He warned that the party would sanction members found guilty of anti-party activities, saying the leadership had received reports of alleged disloyalty.

Kolawole expressed confidence that the APC would win the 2027 presidential, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections in Ondo State. He also commended Aiyedatiwa for strengthening the party’s organs and approving increased allowances for local government and ward chairmen.