With a few days to the primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Ondo State chapter of the party is currently tensed over the insistence by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) on direct primaries, particularly for the National Assembly elections.

The party had fixed May 15, 18 and 20 for the House of Representatives, Senate and State Assembly primaries, respectively, setting the stage for a potential showdown between state and national leadership.

Findings revealed that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa is opposed to the NWC’s adopted mode of primary for the state, rather acceding to his preferred list of candidates for the party’s primary to pick National Assembly aspirants.

The governor had, at recent APC stakeholders’ meetings across the three senatorial districts, announced consensus as the preferred mode of primary.

However, a source at the party’s national secretariat confirmed that efforts to secure acceptance of the governor’s consensus list were rejected by the party’s leadership.

Left with no choice, Aiyedatiwa is said to be mobilising supporters to ensure his preferred candidates emerge at the primaries.

The governor was said to have met with all 203 ward councillors at the Government House, Alagbaka, Akure, on Monday, charging them to prepare for the primaries.

A party insider at the meeting claimed the governor vowed that only two of the current National Assembly members from the state would secure return tickets.

“We were given names of aspirants expected to win in our wards. These are those on the governor’s consensus list. We initially thought the national secretariat would accept the consensus list, but we are surprised he has now directed us to prepare for direct primaries.

“How can a governor who boasted that he already has a consensus list now be asking his appointees to go and prepare for a direct primary? Is there anything wrong that someone is not telling his followers? This is a huge contradiction, I swear.”

Meanwhile, the governor may be heading for a collision with the party’s national leadership if he insists on replacing a majority of the National Assembly members from the state. There are reports that the APC leadership may favour the return of many incumbent lawmakers.

There were reports that 180 APC senators and members of the House of Representatives could secure return tickets, including 48 senators and 140 members of the House.

According to the report, seven of the nine House of Representatives members from Ondo State, as well as Senators Jide Ipinsagba (Ondo North) and Niyi Adegbonmire (Ondo Central), are on the list.

The APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has, however, warned aspirants to ensure peaceful conduct during the primaries or face sanctions.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, Yilwatda said the party would not tolerate any act capable of disrupting the exercise.

He warned that any aspirant or supporter found instigating violence, sponsoring unrest, engaging in anti-party activities or undermining the integrity of the process would face severe disciplinary measures, including suspension.

Yilwatda added that the APC had built a reputation as an organised and nationally accepted political platform, stressing that no individual ambition would be allowed to override the party’s collective interest or national stability.