APC moves to bypass governors over sabotage fears

Ondo in focus as Aiyedatiwa denies allegations of anti-party activities

A brewing crisis is rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the party’s national leadership reportedly directing some candidates to submit their agents’ names directly to Abuja amid fears of sabotage by aggrieved members.

The move marks a departure from the party’s usual practice of allowing state chapters to submit polling agents’ names, amid suspicions that some governors may be backing opposition candidates against the APC.

A party source, who spoke exclusively to our correspondent, said the directive was being enforced in selected states amid fears that grievances arising from the National Assembly primaries could undermine the APC’s chances in the 2027 elections.

The source added that the APC leadership might extend the arrangement to election funding, with funds channeled directly to candidates rather than through governors suspected of backing opposition candidates.

The move underscores growing concerns within the APC that grievances from the primaries could fuel internal divisions and undermine the party’s preparations for the 2027 elections.

Ondo is among the states reportedly affected by the directive amid allegations that some APC chieftains are backing candidates who defected to opposition parties after losing the party’s primaries.

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It will be recalled that a South-West group, the Oodua Progressive Youths League (OPYL), had alleged that some APC governors whose preferred aspirants lost the party’s National Assembly primaries had encouraged them to seek tickets from opposition parties to contest against APC candidates in 2027.

In a statement signed by its General Secretary, Wale Abdulwaheed, the group alleged that some of the governors had reached agreements with opposition parties and were working to influence the selection of polling agents ahead of the elections.

According to the group, the affected governors allegedly directed candidates they sponsored on opposition platforms to nominate loyalists who remained members of the APC as agents for the ruling party.

The group further claimed that the names of such agents would be forwarded to the APC national secretariat in Abuja as the party’s officially recognised representatives in their respective states.

A member of the National Assembly from Ondo State, who is also an APC candidate for the 2027 elections, confirmed that candidates had been instructed to obtain their agents’ forms through a process that bypassed the usual state-level arrangement.

The lawmaker, who pleaded anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, said the national leadership had specifically directed that the process be followed in Ondo State.

“The national body instructed the state chairman to give us our forms directly, and the chairman himself alluded to the fact that he was under instruction not to hand over the agents’ forms to anyone except the candidates.

“He confirmed that Ondo State was specifically told to follow that route,” the lawmaker said.

The source said the national leadership was monitoring political developments across the states and might consider extending the arrangement to election funding to prevent resources meant for APC candidates from being diverted or withheld.

The lawmaker alleged that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa had encouraged some aspirants who lost the APC primaries to contest against the party’s candidates on other political platforms.

“It is not hidden that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa directed some of the aspirants who contested the APC primaries but lost to seek tickets on other political platforms and contest against the party’s candidates.

“The evidence is there. We all saw some of his political appointees, including party executive members, at the declaration of Hon. Matthew Oyerinmade (MATO) for the PDP, the platform on which he has now emerged as the party’s candidate for the Ondo South Senatorial District.

“We also know that the governor is the financier of Prince Idowu Mafimisebi, who is contesting for the Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency seat on the PDP platform,” he alleged.

The lawmaker also cited the presence of some political appointees at a rally organised by Hon. Tajudeen Adefisoye, popularly known as Small Alhaji, who is contesting the Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency seat on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SP).

According to him, several Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants recently appointed by the governor from Idanre were present at the rally.