A fresh crisis is rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State after party elders declared they were excluded from reconciliation efforts initiated by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa ahead of the 2027 general Elections. The elders, operating under the aegis of the PBAT Mandate Forum, accused the governor of insincerity in his outreach to party members and questioned his commitment to President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Speaking on behalf of the forum, its Chairman, Demola Ijabiyi, stated that the governor’s mobilization strategies have yielded little political impact despite high-profile announcements. Ijabiyi said the governor has launched several support groups with fanfare only to see them collapse shortly after inauguration. He added that the Governor’s Advisory Council has remained largely dormant and ineffective, while Aiyedatiwa’s visible leadership on the upcoming elections has been strikingly inadequate.
“At a time when strong coordination, sustained grassroots mobilisation and energetic political leadership are required, the level of commitment and effectiveness demonstrated so far has fallen far short of expectations,” Ijabiyi said.
The forum further alleged that the governor’s recent conduct suggests dissatisfaction with the outcome of the party’s candidate selection processes. Ijabiyi noted that Aiyedatiwa is reportedly unhappy over the failure of his preferred aspirants to secure tickets for the National Assembly and the reduction of his influence in the emergence of certain State House of Assembly candidates.
Tensions escalated recently when photographs circulated showing the governor hosting a prominent opposition senatorial candidate. The development, according to the elders, disturbed many party faithful and raised further doubts about the governor’s loyalty to the APC’s core interests.
The PBAT Mandate Forum’s intervention underscores deepening fractures within the Ondo APC chapter as the party attempts to consolidate its structure ahead of the next electoral cycle. Observers warn that unresolved internal disputes could weaken the party’s chances in a state where it currently holds the governorship. Party leaders have yet to issue an official response to the elders’ allegations, but the pressure for a genuine, inclusive reconciliation process is mounting.
