Ondo Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa urges APC elders to unite, activate grassroots structures and support Tinubu and party candidates in 2027.
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on Monday unveiled the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s mobilisation plan for the 2027 general elections, declaring that the party has only one structure in the state and must operate as one indivisible political family.
Governor Aiyedatiwa, who spoke at the APC Elders Council meeting in Akure, directed the activation of the council across the 18 local government areas and charged party structures to work together for victory.
He also urged members to support all APC candidates contesting elections at the federal and state levels, saying the development of Ondo State, the success of his administration and the party’s electoral prospects are intertwined and require the collective support of elders, women, youths and other members.
The governor warned against attempts to factionalise the party, saying such moves must not be allowed to distract members from its political objectives.
“APC is one. There are no two APCs in Ondo State. APC is one, All Progressives Congress,” he declared.
He said those attempting to create another faction of the Elders Council remain members of the APC and should be brought back into the fold.
“We don’t want to leave anybody out. Even those who are trying to create another faction, we are talking to them that APC must remain one,” he said.
Governor Aiyedatiwa said the development of the state rests on his shoulders as the elected governor but stressed that he cannot accomplish it alone.
“I need the support of everyone: the elders, the women, the youth, everyone,” he said.
He also emphasised citizens’ participation in governance, urging members to offer advice and support rather than encourage division.
According to him, the APC remains the vehicle through which members can pursue political offices, stressing that the paramount interest of any political party is to secure or retain power.
He urged members to cooperate with the state chairman and activate all structures of the party.
The governor said elders’ contributions are critical to the success of his administration and directed that the Elders Council be replicated across the 18 local government areas.
He said local government meetings would make it easier for elders to participate without travelling far from home, while state-level meetings could be held quarterly or half-yearly.
Governor Aiyedatiwa also rallied support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying the only way to support the President at this stage is to unite and vote for him in the next election.
He credited Tinubu’s reforms with increasing the resources available to states to execute projects and programmes, describing the President as “very courageous” and “very bold” in taking decisions which, he said, are helping the country and states to develop.
The governor, however, stressed that the mobilisation must cover all APC candidates contesting the Senate, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly elections.
He said the party must operate across its 18 local governments, 203 wards and 3,933 polling units.
“The first thing is to bring everybody together under one umbrella; the umbrella of APC. We have only one party and we have only one chairman,” he said.
Speaking, APC State Chairman, Hon. Kolawole Babatunde, said the experience of elders remain essential to the party, noting that the current State Working Committee is relatively young compared with those who built the party from the Alliance for Democracy through the Action Congress to the APC.
He said the APC constitution recognises the Elders Council as an integral part of the party structure, with responsibilities including ensuring stability, offering advice, initiating policies, regulating proceedings and formulating a code of conduct.
Earlier, Chairman of the APC Elders Council, Senator Nimbe Farukanmi, called for unity among members and urged them to support Governor Aiyedatiwa and President Tinubu.
Farukanmi described the meeting as an important opportunity for leaders and members from the three senatorial districts to reconnect and deliberate on the progress of the state.
Also speaking, party elders, includijg Senator Tayo Alasoadura, Hon. Joseph Akinlaja, Pastor Segun Ayerin and Mrs Jumoke Anifowose-Ajasin, commended the governor and party chairman for the meeting, describing it as timely and thoughtful.