Denies sponsoring defections

Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has declared zero tolerance for anti-party activities within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, charging local government and ward chairmen to mobilise the grassroots and deliver victory for the party in the 2027 General Elections.

The governor, who spoke yesterday at a stakeholders’ meeting with APC local government and ward chairmen in Akure, also dismissed allegations that he was sponsoring party members to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other opposition parties.

Aiyedatiwa described the allegations as falsehoods spread by those he called “naysayers, blackmailers and slanderers”, stressing that he has never engaged in anti-party activities throughout his political career.

He directed the 18 local government and 203 ward chairmen to hold regular meetings and prioritise mobilisation as the party prepares for the forthcoming elections.

The governor recounted his political history to demonstrate his commitment to the progressive fold, recalling that when the Labour Party was in government, and the PDP was strong in the state, particularly in his senatorial district and local government, he chose to join the Alliance for Democracy (AD/ACN) despite the party being out of government.

However, the governor’s stance comes amid growing concerns within the Ondo APC over alleged anti-party activities and internal strife.

On his part, the APC State Chairman, Babatunde Kolawole, called for total loyalty to Aiyedatiwa and the party, saying that loyalty to the governor, as the party’s leader, was the right thing to do.

The party chairman commended Aiyedatiwa for activating the party’s organs and approving ward meetings to strengthen the party at the grassroots level.

Speaking on behalf of the 18 local government chairmen, Oluwadare Fadumo commended the governor for what he described as unprecedented support for the councils and their people, saying the administration’s projects and empowerment programmes have impacted market women and youths, while the increased allowances for party chairmen have generated excitement.