2027: Aiyedatiwa warns against anti-party activities, urges support for Tinubu

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has declared zero tolerance for anti-party activities in the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general election. This is as Mr Aiyedatiwa urged party members to support President Bola Tinubu and all APC candidates in the 2027 elections, stressing the need for discipline and loyalty within the party. The governor stated this on Monday at a stakeholders' meeting with APC local government and ward chairmen in Akure. He charged the party's 18 local government and 203 ward chairmen to intensify grassroots mobilisation. The governor, while dismissing allegations that he was involved in anti-party activities, said he had never directed any candidate to contest an election on the platform of another political party. 'I have zero tolerance for anti-party. I have never engaged in anti-party in my life. '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,' Mr Aiyedatiwa said. The governor described the allegations against him as falsehoods being peddled by 'naysayers, blackmailers and slanderers.' He recalled his political history and commitment to the progressive political fold, saying he remained with the Alliance for Democracy (AD/ACN) at a time when the Labour Party and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were stronger in the state. Mr Aiyedatiwa also recalled his political experiences between 2010 and 2020, including his emergence as deputy governor and the 2019 APC primary. He said although he won the 2019 primary, the result was overturned by the party leadership in Abuja, adding that the experience reinforced the need for members to respect the authority and decisions of the party leadership. He directed the ward chairmen and secretaries to hold regular meetings and bring party leaders together to discuss the affairs of the party and preparations for the 2027 elections. The governor said he had also supported aspirants in the past based on decisions reached by party leaders after consultations. Mr Aiyedatiwa thanked the party leaders for their feedback on the government's projects and programmes, describing their commendations as encouraging. He said the feedback would motivate his administration to do more and fast-track the completion of ongoing projects. Earlier, the APC state chairman, Babatunde Kolawole, urged the local government and ward chairmen to support all APC candidates, saying the governor had directed the party to work towards 100 per cent support for its candidates. He warned that anti-party activities would not be tolerated, adding that the party had gathered intelligence on alleged acts of disloyalty. Mr Kolawole expressed confidence that the APC would emerge victorious in the presidential, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections. He commended Mr Aiyedatiwa for activating the party's organs, 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 increasing the allowances of local government and ward chairmen by 100 per cent. According to him, allowances for state party executives have also been increased. (NAN)