Tensions within the Ondo State All Progressives Congress escalated on Wednesday as party elders claimed ignorance regarding Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s supposed reconciliation initiative for the upcoming 2027 elections. Representing the PBAT Mandate Elders Forum, these leaders questioned the governor’s sincerity in fostering unity within the state chapter.
Demola Ijabiyi, the forum’s chairman, expressed skepticism about the governor’s dedication to President Bola Tinubu’s reelection. He noted that the governor’s mobilization strategies have lacked tangible results, describing them as performative announcements that fail to generate actual political influence. Ijabiyi highlighted that various support groups initiated by the governor quickly vanished, and his official advisory council appears inactive.
Furthermore, the group criticized the governor for what they termed insufficient leadership ahead of the polls. They pointed to the governor’s alleged frustration over the selection of candidates for the National and State Houses of Assembly. The elders also expressed concern regarding reports and images of Aiyedatiwa meeting with a major opposition senatorial candidate, suggesting this undermines the party’s interests.
