Kehinde Fajobi
Ahead of the November 16 Ondo State governorship election, a faction within the All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced its support for Benson Akingboye of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), rejecting Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the APC’s candidate.
The group, known as Ondo Patriots, cited irregularities in Aiyedatiwa’s selection and dissatisfaction with the APC leadership’s handling of the primary process.
In a petition sent to APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, Coordinator Dele Oyewo stated, “It will be almost impossible to work with the governor in the November 16 gubernatorial election,” adding that the faction feels “loyalty has repeatedly been taken for granted” in the APC.
Governor Aiyedatiwa was named the APC’s candidate following an April primary election overseen by Governor Usman Ododo’s committee.
However, the results were contested over allegations of violence and irregularities in certain polling units, leading to petitions by several APC aspirants, including Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Olusola Oke, and Jimi Odimayo.
In response, Ganduje called for party unity, urging aspirants to support Aiyedatiwa’s candidacy.
However, Oyewo and the Ondo Patriots criticised the APC leadership for overlooking the concerns of Ondo citizens, claiming, “The voices of Ondo APC hereby condemn what it describes as gross misconduct against party ethics in the choice of Aiyedatiwa.”
The group expressed frustration with APC’s direction and, after evaluating the credentials of candidates, decided to support SDP’s Akingboye.
“We cannot continue to suffer in silence,” the petition concluded.