Don’t impose unpopular candidates, Ondo APC elders tell Aiyedatiwa

Elders of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State have cautioned Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa against imposing unpopular candidates ahead of the party’s primaries for the 2027 National and State Assembly elections.

The elders, under the aegis of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Elders Forum, urged the governor to consult widely before backing any aspirant, stressing that inclusiveness was necessary to avoid internal crisis within the party.

The convener of the group, Ademola Ijabiyi, spoke on Wednesday during a free medical outreach for the elderly held in Akure and sponsored by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.

Ijabiyi said the elders supported whichever mode of primary the party eventually adopts but maintained that the governor should carry stakeholders along in the candidate selection process.

“We are not an appendage of the government or the governor. We are independent elders working for the election of President Bola Tinubu,” he said.

According to him, many elders were yet to be consulted on the emergence of candidates, despite reports that some aspirants had already met with the governor.

“As a matter of party politics, the governor is expected to influence the selection of House of Assembly members because they will work with him. But a wise governor will consult widely before making decisions,” he added.

The elders expressed optimism that the party’s primaries would be peaceful but said they were prepared to intervene if disputes arose.

Ijabiyi said the group remained neutral and had no preferred candidates, adding that its primary objective was mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 election.

He also expressed confidence that Ondo State would deliver massive votes for Tinubu, citing what he described as growing support for the President and the APC in the state.

Internal party disputes over candidate imposition and primary elections have remained a recurring challenge in Nigeria’s political landscape, often leading to litigation, defections, and divisions within parties.

Ahead of the 2027 elections, stakeholders within the All Progressives Congress and other political parties have continued to stress the need for transparent and inclusive primaries to strengthen party unity and avoid post-primary crises.

In Ondo State, political alignments and consultations among party leaders are already intensifying as aspirants position themselves for elective offices.