A former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Adefisoye, has alleged betrayal by the Ondo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Engr. Ade Adetimehin, accusing him of sabotaging his 2023 re-election bid despite previous political alliances that contributed significantly to the re-election of the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.
In a statement made public via his official facebook handle, Adefisoye, popularly known as Small Alhaji, recounted his deep involvement in the 2020 Ondo governorship election. He revealed that in October 2020, he received a direct phone call from then APC national leader and now President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who discussed strategies with him to ensure APC’s victory in Ondo.
“We spoke for nearly 20 minutes. After our discussion, he handed the phone to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, then Chairman of the APC Campaign Council, and instructed him to work directly with me,” he stated.
According to Adefisoye, upon Sanwo-Olu’s arrival in Akure, he was invited to a high-level strategy meeting that included then-Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello. During the session, he was asked to identify the most influential politician in Ondo. Despite not being on speaking terms with Adetimehin at the time and being a member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), he chose to promote him due to their shared hometown.
“I told them Engr. Ade Adetimehin was the strongest politician in Ondo State. That endorsement sealed our alliance and contributed to Akeredolu’s re-election,” he said.
However, Adefisoye claimed the same Adetimehin betrayed him in the 2023 general elections. He alleged that Adetimehin gained access to his campaign structure under the guise of support but worked behind the scenes to undermine his chances.
“That betrayal cost me my re-election. He acted like a father figure but was busy engaging in anti-party activities,” Adefisoye alleged.
He also revealed that he personally spent over ₦1.4 billion to fund APC campaigns in Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency during the 2023 elections, defending the party across all levels—presidential, senatorial, and House of Reps.
“I fought online battles for the party, funded the campaigns, and stayed loyal even after my loss. Yet, I’ve received no federal appointment while others with lesser input got rewarded,” he lamented.
Despite his disappointment, Adefisoye stated that he remains loyal to the APC and to President Tinubu’s leadership, and expressed his confidence in Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa’s capacity to rebuild unity in the party.
He said his appointment as Director-General of Aiyedatiwa’s campaign in Idanre during the 2024 APC primaries was an opportunity to reinforce internal discipline and reward genuine loyalty.
“I accepted the DG role because I believe Governor Aiyedatiwa’s emergence will put an end to betrayal and sabotage in our politics. Despite local gang-ups, God granted us victory,” he stated.
Adefisoye took a swipe at political support groups jostling for visibility ahead of 2027, warning against selfish agendas that could destabilize the party’s structure.
“We no dey fear. We dey stand gidigba for Asiwaju. Anyone trying to scatter what we built go collect wotowoto. All this noise is unnecessary—Ondo is already in Tinubu’s pocket,” he declared.
He called for unity under a single umbrella, warning that throwing stones while living in glass houses could trigger public scrutiny.
“We can also ask questions. Don’t let us start asking questions,” he warned ominously.
As of press time, efforts to get a response from Engr. Adetimehin were unsuccessful. Party insiders say the revelations have rattled key stakeholders in the Ondo APC, with calls for reconciliation and internal reviews growing louder.
Adefisoye, who served in the 9th Assembly from 2019 to 2023, has once again positioned himself as a key player in the unfolding political realignment in Ondo State ahead of 2027.
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