…says APC has one structure in Ondo State.

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has called on members of the All Progressives Congress in the state to unite and work for the success of the party in the 2027 general elections.

Aiyedatiwa made the call on Monday at a meeting with members of the APC Elders Council held at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Akure.

The governor said the party had only one structure in Ondo State and urged members to stop anything that could create divisions within its ranks.

“APC is one. There are no two APCs in Ondo State. APC is one, All Progressives Congress,” he said.

Aiyedatiwa said those trying to form another faction of the Elders Council were still 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,” the governor added.

He directed that the Elders Council should be activated in the 18 local government areas of the state, saying this would make it easier for elders to participate in party activities.

According to him, holding meetings at the local government level would save elders the stress of travelling long distances, while state meetings could be held quarterly or twice a year.

The governor also asked APC members to support all the party’s candidates contesting the Senate, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly elections.

He said the mobilisation should cover the 18 local government areas, 203 wards and 3,933 polling units in the state.

“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.

Aiyedatiwa also urged members of the party to support President Bola Tinubu, saying the President’s reforms had increased the resources available to states to carry out projects and programmes.

Describing Tinubu as “very courageous” and “very bold”, the governor said the President had taken difficult decisions which he believed were helping the country and the states.

He said the development of Ondo State could not be achieved by his administration alone and appealed to elders, women, youths and other party members to support his government.

“I need the support of everyone: the elders, the women, the youth, everyone,” he said.

Aiyedatiwa also urged party members to participate in governance by offering advice and constructive criticism instead of creating division.

The governor later highlighted some of his administration’s achievements, saying more than 6,000 people had been recruited into the state government since he became governor.

He said those recruited included teachers, health workers, agricultural workers and primary healthcare personnel.

He added that some ad hoc health workers had been converted to full-time employees, while about 500 additional personnel had been recruited into Amotekun.

On infrastructure, Aiyedatiwa said road projects were ongoing across the 18 local government areas, alongside urban renewal projects and the construction of the Akure flyover.

He also mentioned the construction of a 250-bed hospital in Ondo town, 100-bed facilities in Okitipupa and Ikare, and another 100-bed hospital in Irele.

He said the contractors had been mobilised to site, adding that medical equipment had also been purchased for various hospitals.

According to him, the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital received an MRI machine and a CT scanner, noting that the state had never purchased an MRI machine since its creation.

Speaking at the meeting, the APC State Chairman, Kolawole Babatunde, said the experience of the party’s elders was still needed to move the party forward.

Babatunde said the current State Working Committee was relatively young compared with those who had built the party from the Alliance for Democracy through the Action Congress to the APC.

He said the APC constitution recognised the Elders Council as part of the party structure and gave it responsibilities including advising the party, ensuring stability, initiating policies and helping to regulate its affairs.

The chairman said the party would do better by listening to the elders and drawing from their experience.

He added that the achievements of the Aiyedatiwa administration in infrastructure, health, security and water would give the APC issues to campaign with ahead of the 2027 elections.

Earlier, the Chairman of the APC Elders Council, Senator Nimbe Farukanmi, called for unity among members and urged them to support Aiyedatiwa and Tinubu.

Farukanmi said the meeting provided an opportunity for party leaders and members from the three senatorial districts to come together and discuss the progress of the state.

He urged members to avoid misunderstanding and work together, describing Aiyedatiwa as an open-minded leader who had reached out to him on matters concerning cooperation among party leaders.

Other elders at the meeting, including Senator Tayo Alasoadura, Hon. Joseph Akinlaja, Pastor Segun Ayerin and Mrs Jumoke Anifowose-Ajasin, commended the governor and the party chairman for organising the meeting.

They identified some areas requiring attention in the party and urged members to support all APC candidates for victory in the 2027 general elections.

Those present included the Deputy Governor, Dr Olayide Adelami; former Deputy Governors, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, Otunba Omolade Oluwateru and Alhaji Abdulazeez Oluboyo; Chairman of the Governor’s Advisory Council, Chief Pius Akinyelure; Vice Chairman of the APC Elders Council, Alhaji Jamiu Ekungba; Executive Director of Corporate Services, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde; and Chief Olusola Oke, among others.