By Tolulope Eniola
Ondo State Governor, Dr Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has outlined the process for selecting candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at the APC Central Senatorial District stakeholders’ meeting held at the Akure Township Hall, on Friday, the Governor stressed that merit, loyalty and winnability would guide the emergence of aspirants.
He urged party members to maintain discipline and unity, warning against do-or-die politics and actions capable of weakening the party.
He noted that political activities were already gathering momentum across the state. He said the display of posters, billboards and social media campaigns by aspirants signalled early interest, even as he emphasised the need for orderliness in line with party guidelines.
Aiyedatiwa explained that the electoral process would commence with the release of a timetable by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), followed by the party’s alignment with it.
According to him, aspirants would proceed through stages including expression of interest, nomination, screening and appeals, after which candidates would emerge either through direct primaries or consensus arrangements, depending on what best serves the party.
He disclosed that consultations were already ongoing among party leaders and aspirants to promote consensus where necessary, noting that only one candidate would eventually emerge for each elective position.
The governor, however, cautioned aspirants against desperation, urging them to conduct honest self-assessment and pursue their ambitions with restraint.
“It is not a do-or-die affair. If you are not chosen, do not rock the boat. Remain in the party. One day, opportunity will come,” he said, while also warning against defection by aggrieved aspirants.
Drawing from personal experience, Aiyedatiwa recalled contesting for the Senate in 2018 without success but remaining loyal to the party, a decision he said eventually paved the way for his political growth.
He reiterated the importance of patience and steadfastness in political engagement.
The governor further revealed that the APC had expanded its stakeholder structure from 10 to 60 leaders per local government to deepen inclusiveness and participation.
He added that consultations had been decentralised across senatorial districts to strengthen grassroots involvement in party affairs.
Reaffirming the party’s ambition for the 2027 elections, Aiyedatiwa set a target of one million votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Ondo State, urging members to rally support based on the administration’s performance.
He highlighted ongoing federal projects in the state, including the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, Ore–Akure dualisation and the Ibadan–Ilesa–Akure–Benin highway, as evidence of development efforts.
In his remarks, the APC State Chairman, Mr Babatunde Kolawole, reaffirmed party supremacy and declared that Governor Aiyedatiwa remains the leader of the party in Ondo State.
He stated that his role as chairman was strictly organisational, stressing that ultimate authority in the party rests with the governor.
“I am not the leader of the party; I am the chairman. The governor is the leader of the party, and wherever he directs, we will follow,” he said.
Kolawole assured that the State Working Committee remained fully loyal to the governor, warning against any form of divided allegiance.
He also cautioned aspirants against premature campaigns, noting that the meeting was strictly a stakeholders’ forum and not a campaign platform.
He urged aspirants to accept party decisions with maturity, adding that political patience remains key to long-term success. He also reiterated the APC’s full support for President Tinubu.
In his welcome address, Central Senatorial Leader of the APC, Mr Kayode Famuyiwa, commended Governor Aiyedatiwa’s leadership, infrastructural development and economic management, noting that Akure had attained a befitting capital status.
He called for the establishment of a College of Agriculture and Food Technology in Idanre, citing the area’s agricultural endowments in cocoa, timber and plantain, and said the absence of a tertiary institution was hindering youth development.
He said such an institution would expand access to education, create jobs and stimulate innovation.
Famuyiwa also urged unity ahead of party primaries, stressing that consensus remained a legitimate process, while pledging the district’s commitment to delivering 500,000 votes for President Tinubu in 2027.
The Asiwaju of Akure and Executive Director of Corporate Services, Hon Ifedayo Abegunde, noted that stakeholders’ meetings were being held across all three senatorial districts, expressing satisfaction with the level of participation.
He said the choice between consensus and direct primaries would be determined by party leadership, urging aspirants to focus on performance in their respective constituencies.
In their goodwill messages, representatives of Ondo East/West Federal Constituency, Mr Johnson Olabisi Johnson, commended the governor for infrastructural development and educational interventions, including road construction, rural school rehabilitation and teacher recruitment.
For Akure South/North Federal Constituency, former Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Kenneth Olawale, lauded urban renewal efforts in Akure, including traffic management improvements and installation of traffic lights, while calling for flyovers to ease congestion in the state capital.
For Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency, Chief Mrs Lydia Ajisafe expressed appreciation for developmental projects executed in the area, speaking on behalf of constituents.
The meeting was attended by the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji; members of the State Executive Council; lawmakers; Hon Abiola Makinde; Hon Festus Akingbaso; former Secretary to the State Government, Dr Taiwo Fasoranti; and other party leaders and stakeholders.
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