APC Monitors Aiyedatiwa’s Alleged Romance With Opposition In Ondo

Fresh cracks may have emerged within the Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), following allegations that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has opened alliance talks with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) after some of his preferred aspirants lost the party’s National Assembly tickets.

It was gathered from credible party sources that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC is closely monitoring what it described as the governor’s alleged growing romance with the opposition, particularly the ADC, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

However, Aiyedatiwa denied engaging in any anti-party activities following the circulation of a photograph showing him with the ADC

Senatorial candidate for Ondo Central, Senator Ayo Akinyelure.

This is just as the national leadership of the APC declined to comment on the development.

But according to sources, it has upset the national leadership of the ruling party, especially after photographs surfaced showing Governor Aiyedatiwa with the ADC’s Ondo Central Senatorial candidate for the 2027 election, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, shortly after a church service at the Government House Chapel, Alagbaka, Akure, on Sunday.

It was learnt that the governor allegedly attended Akinyelure’s 70th birthday celebration recently, a development some party leaders interpreted as a sign of deepening political rapprochement.

Party insiders, however, maintained that while the APC leadership was not attempting to dictate who the governor should associate with, it could not ignore what they described as “a disturbing alleged political alliance between the governor and members of the opposition party in his State.

The party leadership was said to have observed that Akinyelure, the ADC candidate, is now frequently seen with Governor Aiyedatiwa after his preferred aspirant for the Ondo Central Senatorial ticket, Dr Taiwo Fasoranti, who was recently reappointed as Secretary to the State Government (SSG), lost the APC ticket to incumbent Senator Niyi Adegbonmire.

Former Senator Akinyelure, is regarded as one of the major backers of the ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in Ondo State.

A reliable source within the APC, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, alleged that the governor had not concealed his grievances over the outcome of the party’s National Assembly primaries.

The source said, “We are aware of the games of Mr. Governor since his preferred aspirants lost the party tickets. We are aware that he instigated some of the aspirants to challenge the decision of the party in court. He also allegedly directed some of his loyalists to contest on other parties, while also romancing the ADC in the state.

“One thing Aiyedatiwa has failed to understand is that he became governor due to the benevolence of our great party and our national leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. If the decision of the party didn’t favour him this time around, he shouldn’t be the person working against the interest of the party and President Tinubu.

“Despite his romance with the opposition, particularly with Atiku’s agents in the state, the APC still remains a formidable force. We will win the state by a wide margin.”

However, Aiyedatiwa, through his Chief Press Secretary, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, dismissed the development as a deliberate attempt to create controversy and give the impression that the governor was working against the interest of the APC.

‎Aiyedatiwa described the narrative as “false, misleading, and a clear attempt to manufacture controversy where none exists.”

According to him, the Government House Chapel was a public place of worship and was not restricted to members of the APC or any particular political party.

‎He said, “The Government House Chapel is a public place of worship. Just like the Mosque within the Government House premises, the Chapel is open to all citizens, religious leaders, and public officials who wish to worship. It is not an APC-only facility.”

‎He added that suggesting that the presence of an opposition candidate at the chapel was politically motivated amounted to a misunderstanding of the purpose of the Government House, which he said belonged to all the people of Ondo State.

‎Explaining Akinyelure’s presence at the chapel, the governor said the ADC candidate was there to worship and to personally thank him for sending a representative and a goodwill message to his 70th birthday celebration held the previous week.

‎He described the interaction as “a normal act of courtesy, decorum, and respect that transcends party lines,” stressing that it should not be interpreted as an indication of political alignment with the opposition.

‎The governor further pointed out that Akinyelure was the younger brother of Chief Pius Akinyelure, a leader of the APC, an ally of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Chairman of the Governor’s Advisory Council in Ondo State.

‎He reaffirmed his loyalty to the ruling party, saying, “Governor Aiyedatiwa remains committed to the APC and all its candidates. The Governor will work with all party structures to ensure that APC wins all elections in Ondo State.”

‎He urged members of the public and APC supporters to disregard what he described as the antics of “mischief-makers” allegedly seeking to create division within the party.

‎The governor said he would not be distracted from his administration’s agenda to deliver good governance and consolidate the gains of the APC in Ondo State.

The APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka and the party’s Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, had yet to respond to questions directed to them on the matter as of press time.