ONDO STATE APC CHIEFTAINS SEEK RESIGNATION FROM APPOINTED OFFICIAL BEFORE SENATORIAL BID
Ondo State leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have written to National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, demanding that the party’s National Vice‑Chairman (South‑West), Hon. Isaac Kekemeke, step down from his appointed posts before seeking the Ondo South senatorial ticket.
The petition comes after Kekemeke announced his intention to contest the seat vacated by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, who was recently appointed Nigeria’s permanent representative to the United Nations. The petitioners – traditional rulers from Agadagba‑Obon in Ese‑Odo Local Government Area – argue that Kekemeke’s bid is “ill‑timed and ill‑conceived,” noting that he shares the same local government area as Ambassador Sola Iji (Nigeria’s envoy to Russia) and the same federal constituency as Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
Citing Sections 84 and 88 of the Electoral Act, the chieftains contend that any public officer who wishes to run for elective office must resign from the appointive role first. They point out that Kekemeke currently holds two positions: chairman of the APC South‑West Zonal Executive Committee and Chairman of the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST). The petition states that during the last Ondo governorship election Kekemeke failed to resign before contesting, a precedent the signatories say must not be repeated.
“The party must enforce compliance with the law and protect its integrity,” the petition reads. “We therefore insist that Hon. Kekemeke publicly submit his resignation letters and proof of acknowledgement from both NIPOST and the APC South‑West Zonal Chairmanship.”
The signatories appeal to the APC national leadership to uphold the party constitution, internal principles, and the provisions of the Electoral Act, warning that failure to do so could lead to avoidable litigation and damage to the party’s credibility.
The matter now rests with the APC’s national executive, which has not yet commented on the petition. If the demands are met, Kekemeke would need to vacate his appointed posts before the party’s primaries, scheduled for later this year, proceed. The outcome could set a precedent for how the APC handles the intersection of appointed positions and elective ambitions across Nigeria.
