… Tinubu’s aides allege betrayal

Fresh facts have emerged on the lingering crisis over the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Assembly candidacies in Ondo State, with the presidency expressing anger over the alleged sponsored protests that greeted the release of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nomination forms to the party’s recognized candidates.

It was learned that the Presidency is particularly displeased that the Ondo State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Seun Osamaye, and the APC State Women Leader, Iji-Ayeola, were allegedly seen in viral videos leading protests against President Bola Tinubu and the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

Competent sources familiar with the development said security agencies had been directed to investigate the organizers and sponsors of the protests.

According to sources, the presidency felt betrayed by the actions of the group loyal to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, noting that it was particularly disturbing that such a protest took place in Ondo, an APC-controlled state, under a governor widely believed to have enjoyed the president’s support.

Sources insisted that Osamaye was seen in the viral videos leading the protesters and addressing journalists, despite the state government’s denial.

The Ondo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku, had denied Osamaye’s involvement in the protest while speaking on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television program.

Ajanaku said, “The Commissioner for Women Affairs did not say anything against the party. I think it was the women who protested in Ondo State. The Commissioner for Women Affairs only received them and assured them that whatever concerns they had would be communicated to the leadership of the party.”

But sources insisted that Osamaye was seen in the viral videos leading the protesters and addressing journalists.

However, a source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment on the matter, said, “Did you notice that Ondo was the only state where such a protest took place? Interestingly, while his supporters were protesting in Akure, he was in Abuja appealing to Chief Bisi Akande and Chief Pius Akinyelure to facilitate a meeting with the President, but the party elders declined.”

“It should never have happened in Ondo State. President Tinubu was instrumental to Governor Aiyedatiwa’s emergence. Without the president’s intervention, it would have been difficult for him to overcome the challenges posed by aspirants such as Chief Olusola Oke (SAN), Wale Akinterinwa, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, and others during the 2024 governorship race.”

The source further alleged, “At one point, the president appealed to Senator Jimoh Ibrahim to withdraw his court case challenging the primary that produced Aiyedatiwa as the party’s candidate. If the president did all these for you, is this the way to repay him?

“The issue we are witnessing in Ondo State arose because of his insistence on taking all the National Assembly tickets. I am aware that Chief Akinyelure personally appealed to the governor to concede some constituencies in the interest of party unity ahead of President Tinubu’s re-election. We were told the governor rejected the advice, insisting that he was the leader of the party in the state and nobody could dictate to him.

“The same party leader he allegedly ignored is now the person he is seeking to help secure an audience with the president.

“What the party has done has strengthened unity within the APC in Ondo State. During the primary, we are aware that the secretary and some members of the National Assembly Primary Election Committee left the state in protest after refusing to compromise. They returned to Abuja and submitted their report, which formed part of the over 700 petitions reviewed by the National Working Committee before it reached its final decision.”