ONDO APC TO HOLD STATE CONGRESS; NEW OFFICERS TO EMERGE BY CONSENSUS

Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, and top leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state on Monday dismissed claims of crisis within the party, insisting that the state chapter remains united ahead of its state congress scheduled for Tuesday.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting at the APC state secretariat in Akure, Governor Aiyedatiwa said reports of tension were largely driven by social media, stressing that the reality on the ground reflects a peaceful and cohesive party.

The Governor commended the APC State Congress Committee for successfully conducting the ward and local government congresses, acknowledging initial challenges at the ward level but noting that all issues were resolved. He said the local government congresses showed even greater improvements and expressed confidence that the state congress would be conducted in an orderly and successful manner.

While recognising that disagreements are normal in any human organisation, including families, Aiyedatiwa emphasised that such differences should not be interpreted as conflict. “We are not at war,” he said, assuring delegates and committee members of their safety during the exercise.

He reiterated the party’s tradition of consensus in electing executives since 2014, aligning the state chapter’s approach with the leadership philosophy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom he described as a strong advocate of orderliness and structured party leadership.

Also addressing the meeting, APC South-West National Vice Chairman, Dr. Isaac Kekemeke, said the gathering reflected broad representation from all 18 local government areas, including leaders both in and outside government.

Kekemeke recalled that since the party’s formation in Ondo in 2014, executives had been elected by consensus, with only the chairman’s position contested at inception. He said similar arrangements were followed in 2018 and 2022, noting that the state has never elected executives through ballot voting.

He urged members of the National Working Committee to ignore social media reports of crisis, stressing that differences over personal ambitions should not be construed as conflict. He also described the governor as the party’s leader in the state and denied rumours of personal disagreements with him, citing past political contests, including his own in 2024, as proof that differences need not lead to hostility.

Responding to the alleged court order to stop the congress, Kekemeke said the party had not received any official directive and was not relying on social media reports.

Chairman of the APC State Congress Committee, Comrade Ogonna Obiekwe, said the committee is set to conduct the congress that will produce 36 working committee members to manage party affairs for the next four years. He assured that the exercise would be free, fair, and credible, guided by the party constitution, the 2026 Electoral Act, and federal laws.

Committee Secretary, Hon. Shittu Bamayi, explained that delegate accreditation would begin at 8 a.m. at designated centres across the 18 councils, with delegates required to present membership slips. He said the congress would be conducted by voice vote under a consensus arrangement, affirming the committee’s impartiality.

In their goodwill messages, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji, and party leaders, Dr. Tunji Abayomi and Princess Omowunmi Olatunji-Ohwovoriole, commended the Congress Committees for their efforts and urged members to accept the outcome of Tuesday’s congress.