Aiyedatiwa denies sponsoring APC members to defect to opposition

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on Monday declared a zero-tolerance policy for anti-party activities in the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections. Aiyedatiwa, who dismissed allegations that he was sponsoring some APC members and candidates to defect to opposition parties, said he had never directed any candidate to contest an election on another platform. The governor spoke on Monday at a stakeholders' meeting with the APC's 18 local government and 203 ward chairmen in Akure, where he charged them to intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections. He described the ward chairmen as critical to the party's electoral success, noting that elections were ultimately won at polling units located within the wards. 'Elections are won at the polling units. And the polling units are right there in the ward. And you are the ward chairmen. Very, very important. You are occupying a significant role in party structure,' he said. Aiyedatiwa directed ward chairmen and secretaries to hold regular meetings and bring party leaders together to deliberate on party affairs, particularly mobilisation for the forthcoming elections. He, however, warned that such mobilisation must not be accompanied by anti-party activities. 'I have zero tolerance for anti-party. I have never engaged in anti-party in my life,' the governor declared. He described those accusing him of anti-party activities as 'naysayers, blackmailers and slanderers', insisting that his political history demonstrated his loyalty to the progressive political family. The governor recalled that at a time when the Labour Party was in government and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was dominant in Ondo State, particularly in his senatorial district and local government, he chose to join the Alliance for Democracy (AD), later ACN, despite the party being out of power. He also recounted his political experiences between 2010 and 2020, including his emergence as deputy governor and the 2019 APC primary election, saying the experience taught him the importance of respecting party leadership and its decisions. According to him, although he won the 2019 primary, the result was overturned by the party leadership in Abuja, which, he noted, remained supreme. He said he had also supported aspirants in the past in accordance with decisions reached by the party leadership after consultations, stressing the need for discipline, loyalty and respect for party decisions. The governor consequently rejected allegations that his administration was sponsoring APC members to defect to the PDP or other political parties. 'So, no to anti-party, that's what I'm trying to say. Let's support Mr President and all the candidates of our party,' he said. Aiyedatiwa also expressed appreciation to party leaders for their positive assessment of his administration's projects and programmes, describing their commendations as encouraging. He said the feedback would spur his administration to accelerate the completion of ongoing projects across the state. Earlier, the APC State Chairman, Hon. Babatunde Kolawole, called for total loyalty to Governor Aiyedatiwa and the party, describing loyalty to the governor as the party's leader as 'the right thing to do.' Kolawole urged the local government and ward chairmen to support all APC candidates, saying the governor had directed the party to work towards securing 100 per cent support for its candidates in 2027. He warned that the party would not tolerate anti-party activities, alleging that it had gathered intelligence on acts of disloyalty by some members. The chairman said those found culpable would face the consequences at the appropriate time. Kolawole expressed confidence that the APC would win the 2027 presidential, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections in the state. He commended Aiyedatiwa for activating the various organs of the party, including the State Executive Committee, Caucus and Elders Council. He also praised the governor for approving regular ward meetings to strengthen the party at the grassroots and for increasing the allowances of ward and local government chairmen by 100 per cent. He added that the allowances of state party executives had also been increased. Speaking on behalf of the 18 local government chairmen, Oluwadare Fadumo commended the governor for what he described as unprecedented support for local councils and their people. Fadumo said the administration's projects and empowerment programmes had positively impacted market women and youths, while the increase in allowances for party chairmen had generated excitement among party members. 'We want to thank you because this is the first time this is happening in the history of politics in Ondo State,' he said.