Senators, Reps Boycott Inauguration Of Ondo APC Campaign Council

Serving members of the National Assembly representing various senatorial districts and federal constituencies in Ondo State yesterday boycotted the inauguration of the state campaign council over what they termed ‘insincerity and double standards’ on the part of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

Following the inauguration of the National body of the Campaign Council on Wednesday last week, Governor Aiyedatiwa also fixed yesterday for same exercise.
Curiously, all the serving federal lawmakers who secured the party’s ticket to run stayed away in protest. Only the senatorial candidate of the APC for Ondo south, Isaacs Kekemeke was in attendance at the event.

Those who boycotted the event include: Senators Adeniyi Adegbonmire, SAN(Ondo Central) and Jide Ipinsagba(Ondo North). Others who were absent were Adegboyega Adefarati(Akoko South East / West); Ife Ehindero(Akoko North East/ west); Timehin Adelegbe(Owo/Ose); Festus Akingbaso(Idanre/ Ifedore); Festus Adefiranye(Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo/Odigbo); Jimi Odimayo(Irele/Okitipupa) and Donald Ojogo(Ilaje/Ese-Odo). The APC House of Representatives candidate for Ondo East/West, Dr Ajilo Akintomide was also absent.

A lawmaker who spoke on condition of anonymity told our correspondent that the absence of the lawmakers was in protest against the governor whom he said was playing double game.

“We all know what the governor is up to. We all know how he is instigating court cases against us and at the same time playing the card of the party leader and governor. The man wants all of us to fail at the general elections and we are aware. His appointees are involved in anti-party activities and he encourages it.

“We also know how money was passed to senior lawyers to institute cases against all of us. So where is the sincerity in all these? We will be seen to be handing over a dagger to our politixal adversaries to drive through our chest if we feign ignorance that all is well.

“Where is the reconciliation committee as people have dragged us to courts? We can’t deceive ourselves so we resolved not to attend the programme. It’s a classic one designed to deceive the public and we cannot give be available as tools of justification”, he said.

Meanwhile, Governor Aiyedatiwa, has warned members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that internal divisions and political rivalries could undermine the party’s chances of securing President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

Aiyedatiwa said the party’s numerical strength and status as the ruling party at the federal level would not automatically translate into electoral victory without unity, cooperation and effective grassroots mobilisation.

The governor spoke on Saturday while inaugurating the Ondo State APC Presidential Election Campaign Council, directorates and sub-committees at the International Culture and Event Centre, The Dome, Akure.

He urged party leaders, elected officials, political appointees and members to put aside personal differences and work towards a common objective, stressing that the collective interest of the party must take precedence over individual ambitions.

“As large or as big as we are, if we are not together, it will be difficult to win election. That is why it’s very, very important that we must remain united,” the governor said.

Aiyedatiwa recalled the political alliance that led to the formation of the APC and its victory in the 2015 general election, noting that the coming together of opposition parties had been instrumental in ending the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party’s 16-year hold on power at the federal level.

He warned that the APC could suffer the same fate as the PDP if internal disagreements were allowed to grow into factions capable of weakening the party ahead of the next general election.

“We must learn from that, particularly here in our state. We must all work together,” he said.

The governor maintained that retaining political power was important not only for the party but also for its members and the communities they represented, urging stakeholders to recognise the importance of collective action.

“It’s only when we retain power, that is when your own individual interests and your community interests can be met. All of us must work together,” he added.