Gov Aiyedatiwa dismisses crisis rumours, assures peaceful state congress

……Ondo APC not at war – Kekemeke

……. We’re committed to conducting free, fair, credible congress – Obiekwe

By Precious Oluwole

As the All Progressives Congress, APC is set to hold its State Congress tomorrow, Ondo State Governor, Dr Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has reaffirmed the party’s unity and peaceful disposition, dismissing speculations of crisis and pledging a smooth exercise.

Addressing stakeholders and party members, the Governor said the large turnout at the stakeholders’ meeting was a reflection of the party’s growing strength in the state.

He described the local government congress across the 18 councils as peaceful and without rancour, expressing confidence that the forthcoming state congress would record even greater success.

The Governor reiterated that Ondo State remains peaceful despite varying political interests within the party. He acknowledged that aspirations and contestations are normal in any human setting, including within families, but stressed that such differences do not amount to conflict.

“In any human setting, people will push different interests. But at the end of the day, we disagree to agree. Once a winner emerges, everyone will come together. We are not at war,” he said.

He attributed much of the negative perception about internal disagreements to social media exaggerations, noting that those who had physically participated in the congresses could attest to the peaceful atmosphere in the state.

Governor Aiyedatiwa also highlighted the party’s long-standing tradition of adopting consensus in electing its officers since 2014, describing it as a “holy culture” that has strengthened internal cohesion over the years.

He said the state chapter would continue to uphold that tradition at the forthcoming congress.

He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing him as a phenomenon in party management and leadership, adding that the President’s emphasis on orderliness, respect for party hierarchy and recognition of governors as party leaders has contributed significantly to stability within the APC nationwide.

“Our leader believes in consensus, in leadership and in orderliness. Since he assumed office, you keep hearing that the governor is the leader of the party. That emphasis on structure and ranking has strengthened the party,” he said.

He added that many internal reforms and reconciliatory moves within the party were part of initiatives designed to ensure unity and prevent crises.

Governor Aiyedatiwa thanked party members, delegates and statutory participants for their cooperation throughout the ward and local government congresses and urged them to maintain the same spirit as the state congress approaches.

He assured the stakeholders and party members of peaceful and successful exercise, expressing confidence that the process would further consolidate the party’s unity and strengthen its structure in Ondo State.

The SouthWest Vice Chairman of APC, Dr. Isaac Kekemeke described the gathering as a true reflection of the party’s leadership, comprising both those in government and those outside government.

He said consensus had always been the culture of the party in the state since its formation in 2014, noting that previous congresses in 2014, 2018 and 2022 were conducted in similar fashion without recourse to ballot voting.

“This is our culture. We have never voted by ballot for the executive of our party since 2014 in this state,” he stated, dismissing insinuations of crisis within the party as mere exaggerations on social media.

According to him, disagreements are natural in party politics due to individual aspirations but should not be elevated to the level of conflict.

He insisted that the party in the state was not at war and reaffirmed that the governor remains the leader of the party.

 

Kekemeke urged members to support the governor, noting that no leader is perfect but that unity and loyalty were essential for progress. He cited instances of political reconciliation within the state as evidence that differences could be resolved amicably.

The Speaker , Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji commended delegates from Abuja and assured the gathering that, just like the recent local government congress which he described as peaceful, the state congress would be conducted without incident.

The Chairman of the Congress Committee, Ogonna Obiekwe, said the committee was in the state to conduct the congress that would produce six working committee members to pilot the affairs of the party for the next four years.

He described the assignment as a serious responsibility, noting that those who emerge would steer the party’s direction in the state within the period.

“We are committed to conducting a free, fair and credible congress that every member of the party will be proud to associate with,” he said.

Ogonna added that the committee would be guided strictly by the party’s constitution, the 2026 Electoral Act as amended, the party’s guidelines and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He solicited the cooperation of party members to ensure a seamless exercise.

Also speaking, the Secretary of the Committee, Hon. Shittu Basmati, assured stakeholders that the process would be smooth, explaining that the screening committee had done its job diligently and that all candidates had been cleared without any petitions.

He announced that accreditation of delegates would commence at 8 a.m. at designated centres across the 18 local government areas of the state, with delegates required to present their party membership slips. According to him, the congress would adopt a consensus mode of election through voice vote.

“We are going to be very impartial. We will do our job as stipulated by the party constitution and the Electoral Act,” he assured.

 

The Speaker, Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji commended delegates from Abuja and assured the gathering that, just like the recent local government congress which he described as peaceful, the state congress would be conducted without incident.

A chieftain of the party, Mr. Tunji Abayomi, thanked the committee for its efforts and urged them to exercise fairness and wisdom in the discharge of their duties.

He emphasised the importance of maintaining unity within the party, describing democracy as “government of the people, by the people and for the people.”

He expressed optimism that the process would strengthen the party and move the state forward.

Another stakeholder, Mrs Omowunmi Owhovoriole, stressed the significance of the four-year tenure of the incoming executive, describing the party leadership as the “lifewire” of the organisation. She noted that those elected would carry not only the emblem but also the burden of the party’s existence.

“This exercise is not a child’s play. Whatever we do now, we will live with it,” she said, urging members to see the process as giving birth to a child that must thrive and not end in failure.

 

Also speaking, Mr Olumide Ikuepenikan said members had listened carefully to the committee’s guidelines and were ready to abide by them, expressing confidence that the best candidates would emerge.