A faction within Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has pushed back against efforts to consolidate independent campaign groups ahead of the 2024 governorship election in Ondo State. The Grassroots Movement for Tinubu (GMT), a national support network advocating for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election, rejected a directive by Ondo Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa requiring all APC-aligned groups to operate solely under the party’s formal leadership. The dispute highlights tensions over campaign strategies as Nigerian political factions prepare for upcoming elections.
In a statement released on Friday, Governor Aiyedatiwa emphasized the need for unity, urging pro-Tinubu support groups in the state to merge under the APC’s central structure. However, GMT’s Ondo State Media Director, Ojo Oyewamide, argued that dissolving independent groups would undermine their effectiveness. While welcoming broader party cohesion efforts, he stressed that diverse advocacy networks have historically played a critical role in electoral victories. “Recognizing multiple support structures is essential for mobilizing voters,” Oyewamide said, adding that GMT operates nationwide and cannot be confined to a single state’s political framework.
The group pointed to precedent, citing campaigns during the tenure of late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, when dozens of grassroots organizations—including the Aketi Mandate Group, Team Aketi, and Ibi Giga Ambassadors—collaborated with the APC to secure state-level wins. Similarly, during the 2024 gubernatorial primaries, groups like LACO-FS, Lucky Disciples, and O Datiwa Ladies reportedly bolstered Aiyedatiwa’s own candidacy, contributing to what Oyewamide described as a “resounding 18–0 victory” in local council elections.
GMT accused unnamed stakeholders of distorting the outcomes of a recent APC caucus meeting to justify consolidating campaign efforts. “The suggestion that all pro-Tinubu groups must dissolve into one body is unnecessary and disregards past successes,” Oyewamide stated. He urged members to remain steadfast, emphasizing GMT’s national reach across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The debate reflects broader tensions within Nigerian politics, where informal support blocs often operate in parallel with official party machinery to mobilize voter bases. With electoral contests intensifying, the balance between centralized coordination and decentralized advocacy remains a recurring theme. As the APC navigates these dynamics, the outcome could influence campaign tactics not only in Ondo but across Nigeria’s politically charged landscape.
