Former senator representing Ondo Central Senatorial District, Ayo Akinyelure, has denied entering into any political pact or agreement with Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Akinyelure, who represented Ondo Central in the 7th and 9th Senates, made the clarification during a media conference in Akure, saying his recent interaction with the governor was not aimed at negotiating political support or securing favours.
The clarification followed earlier reports of an alleged political rapprochement between Aiyedatiwa and Akinyelure, who is now the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate for the Ondo Central Senatorial District.
The reports had cited their meeting at the Government House Chapel, Alagbaka, Akure, as well as the governor’s alleged attendance at Akinyelure’s 70th birthday celebration.
Aiyedatiwa had, however, dismissed the reports through his Chief Press Secretary, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, describing the narrative as “false, misleading, and a clear attempt to manufacture controversy where none exists.” The governor said his interaction with Akinyelure was a normal act of courtesy that should not be interpreted as political alignment.
Speaking on the matter, Akinyelure said he met Aiyedatiwa to seek clarification on his political future in the All Progressives Congress (APC), particularly over his ambition to return to the Senate in 2027.
He said the governor told him that the APC had already decided on its preferred candidate for the Ondo Central senatorial ticket and that he would not get the ticket.
“The only thing I needed was to know whether the party would give me the ticket back to the Senate because I believe I am the most qualified person to represent Ondo Central.
“The governor told me they had already considered who they wanted to give the ticket to and that I could not get it. I thanked him for telling me the truth. If he wanted to deceive me, he would have promised support during the primary. At least, he was honest with me, so no political pact,” he said.
Akinyelure said his decision to join the ADC was informed by his desire to remain politically relevant and continue serving the people of Ondo Central, after it became clear that he would not secure the APC ticket.
He said the ADC approached him after his exit from the APC became inevitable, offering him a platform to pursue his political ambition, while dismissing suggestions that his movement was linked to any emerging coalition against the APC.
Recalling his visit to the Government House Chapel, Akinyelure said he used the opportunity to urge Aiyedatiwa, as the state’s chief security officer, to ensure that the votes of Ondo people count in future elections.
“I told the governor, as the chief security officer of the state, to ensure that the votes of the people count in the North, Central and South Senatorial Districts. That was my message. I was not invited for any political arrangement,” he said.
Akinyelure said he preferred elective office to political appointments because elected officials were directly accountable to the electorate.
“If you are given a federal appointment today, you can be removed tomorrow. But when you are democratically elected, it is only death or constitutional processes that can remove you before the end of your tenure. That is why I prefer elective office,” he said.
The former senator maintained that, irrespective of who emerges as president in 2027, he had the experience and political network to attract federal opportunities and development projects to Ondo Central, saying his major concern remained the welfare and development of his constituents.
“Whoever becomes president, I know how to navigate and get what belongs to Ondo Central. My concern is the welfare and development of my people,” he said.
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