The Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is facing internal turbulence following Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s controversial directive to unify all pro-Tinubu support groups under a single umbrella ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The governor, in a high-stakes emergency meeting at the Government House in Akure, unveiled the “Ondo State for Tinubu 2027” campaign platform, insisting it would streamline efforts and strengthen party cohesion.
However, this move has sparked backlash from several prominent Tinubu-aligned groups, including the Grassroots Movement for Tinubu (GMT), Asiwaju Mandate Group, and PBAT Continuity Project. Critics argue the unification is less about party unity and more about consolidating power ahead of the 2028 Ondo governorship race. “It was a coup,” said a top aide, revealing the governor personally signed the meeting invitations—an unusual step seen as highlighting the political stakes.
One vocal critic, Ilesanmi Adeyeye, Coordinator of Conscious Ondo State Citizens, condemned the move as “tone deaf” and accused Aiyedatiwa of political double standards, pointing out that the governor himself relied on multiple support groups during his campaign. The group also criticized a perceived attack on GMT members, demanding a public apology and urging the APC’s national leadership to intervene before the rift escalates.
Despite mounting opposition, Governor Aiyedatiwa remains resolute. He reiterated that all political mobilization for Tinubu must now be routed through the central platform and reminded the party faithful that 2027 is strictly about returning President Tinubu to office, not state-level ambitions. The meeting ended with party leaders reaffirming their support for Tinubu’s re-election and appointing Dr. Taiwo Fasoranti and Mrs. Roseline Okafor to head the new campaign secretariat.
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