A fresh dispute has emerged within the Ondo State branch of the All Progressives Congress (APC) concerning the leadership of mobilization efforts for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign. The factions supporting Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo are currently at odds over the management of pro-Tinubu support organizations.
Dr. Debo Akinbami, a Senior Special Assistant to the Governor, released a statement claiming that the Minister is supporting a faction of party elders in opposition to the Governor. Akinbami specifically pointed to Hon. Demola Ijabiyi, head of the PBAT Elders Mandate Forum, accusing him of attempting to undermine the Governor’s recent initiatives to unify the party. Akinbami argued that the Minister is utilizing fabricated groups to build personal political capital for a future gubernatorial bid under the guise of supporting the President.
In response, Richard Olatunde, the former Chief Press Secretary to the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, dismissed these allegations. He described the elders as independent figures who are not controlled by the Minister. Olatunde highlighted the visible work of the Minister’s support groups, which have been active in community health and grassroots mobilization. He suggested that Governor Aiyedatiwa should prioritize his administrative duties and demonstrate his commitment to the party through successful governance rather than attacking those currently working to advance the President’s agenda.
