Aiyedatiwa ​‌‌⁠​‌‍⁠⁠‌‌⁠​‌⁠​⁠​‌​won’t support candidate against APC – Aide

Steve Otaloro, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Public Engagement to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State, has dismissed rumours that the governor is supporting opposition candidates against the All Progressives Congress (APC) flagbearers.

The SSA to the Governor stated this in a statement made available to journalists on Sunday in Akure, the Ondo State capital..

He denied reports suggesting that Aiyedatiwa had shifted support from the APC candidates in the 2027 general election.

He noted that the clarity was necessary due to alleged reports that the governor had dumped the APC candidate for Ondo South Senatorial District, Dr Isaacs Kekemeke, for an opposition party candidate.

Otaloro described the allegation as untrue, insisting that Aiyedatiwa remained firmly committed to the APC and its candidates.

“There is no truth whatsoever in the insinuation that Governor Aiyedatiwa has abandoned the APC candidate or is supporting the candidate of another political party,” he said.

The governor’s aide said Aiyedatiwa’s political history demonstrated his longstanding commitment to the progressive political family, dating back to the Alliance for Democracy(AD) and the Action Congress of Nigeria(ACN), which eventually metamorphosed into the APC.

Otaloro noted that it would be inconsistent with the governor’s political antecedents and his current position as the leader of the APC in Ondo State for him to support an opposition candidate against his party’s candidate.

“It is inconceivable that the governor, who currently leads the APC in Ondo State, would deliberately pitch his tent against the candidate of the same party in favour of a candidate contesting on the platform of another political party,” he said.

Otaloro said the governor had not authorised anyone to speak on his behalf in support of any opposition candidate.

He urged the public to disregard any claim suggesting otherwise.

The SSA described the alleged shift in the governor’s support as “false, mischievous and politically motivated.”

He said such claims were capable of creating unnecessary tension and division within the party.

Otaloro also referred to recent comments by Kekemeke, who reportedly dismissed speculations about a disagreement between him and Aiyedatiwa.

He said the governor’s position as the leader of the party in the state required him to uphold and support the party’s candidates.

“Governor Aiyedatiwa is an APC leader, an APC loyalist and a supporter of the party’s candidates.

“He will not support any candidate against the party he leads in Ondo State,” Otaloro said.