Ondo group dismisses protest against APC NASS candidates’ list as staged

By Boye Oyeyemi

A support group within the All Progressives Congress named the Democratic Integrity Network has described the protest staged by some women and youths in Ondo State against the party’s National Assembly candidates’ list as a staged exercise aimed at discrediting the party’s national leadership.

The group’s coordinator, Bankole Aminu, said in a statement on Tuesday that the demonstration was a “premeditated charade” rather than a genuine expression of grievances, while commending President Bola Tinubu and the APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, for their leadership.

The protesters had on Monday rejected the list of National Assembly candidates ratified by the APC National Working Committee and forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

According to Aminu, the protest was carefully organised and funded, alleging that participants were paid to demonstrate, contrary to the spontaneous nature of genuine public protests.

“What we witnessed in Ondo State was anything but spontaneous. It was organised, planned and funded. That is not a protest but a rented crowd masquerading as aggrieved party members,” he said.

The group also criticised the reported participation of the Ondo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Seun Osamaye, and the APC Women Leader, Oluwayemisi Iji-Ayeola, saying party members with grievances should exhaust the APC’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms instead of taking to the streets.

It maintained that the APC National Working Committee acted within its constitutional powers in reviewing the primary election results, insisting that amendments to the candidates’ list followed appeals and evidence of irregularities. The group urged members to remain united and avoid actions capable of weakening the party ahead of future elections.

The Democratic Integrity Network further accused associates of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of deepening the crisis within the party instead of promoting reconciliation. It advised the governor to surround himself with experienced party loyalists capable of strengthening the APC and helping his administration focus on governance rather than internal political disputes.