2027: APC Elders Question Aiyedatiwa’s Mobilisation, Rally Behind Tunji-Ojo for Tinubu’s Re-election
2027: APC Elders Question Aiyedatiwa’s Mobilisation, Rally Behind Tunji-Ojo for Tinubu’s Re-election
…..Express Concern Over Aiyedatiwa’s Low-Key Role in Tinubu’s Re-election Campaign…..
A fresh political dimension has emerged within the Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections as the PBAT Mandate Elders Forum openly questioned Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa’s mobilisation efforts for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term bid while throwing its weight behind the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, as a leading force in the party’s grassroots campaign.
Addressing journalists after the forum’s monthly meeting in Akure on Wednesday, the Chairman of the group, Hon. Demola Ijabiyi, said the APC must urgently overcome internal divisions and adopt a more coordinated political strategy if it hopes to deliver overwhelming victories for President Tinubu and other party candidates in the 2027 elections.
Ijabiyi said with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) having released the timetable for campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections, the APC could no longer afford complacency or internal distractions.
According to him, while President Tinubu possesses the political experience and national strategy required to retain power, translating that strategy into electoral victory in Ondo State will depend on effective grassroots mobilisation by party leaders, National Assembly candidates and key political stakeholders.
The forum acknowledged Governor Aiyedatiwa as the recognised leader of the APC in Ondo State but argued that his commitment to President Tinubu’s re-election campaign had not matched public expectations.
The elders maintained that although the Governor was not personally seeking election in 2027, his leadership should be visible, energetic and capable of galvanising party structures across the state.
Ijabiyi alleged that several political support groups launched by the Governor had failed to gain traction after their inauguration, while the Governor’s Advisory Council had remained largely inactive despite the need for sustained political coordination ahead of the polls.
The forum also linked the Governor’s perceived low-key involvement to dissatisfaction over the emergence of some National Assembly candidates and the reduced influence of the Government House in determining candidates for the State House of Assembly.
The APC elders further expressed concern over reports and photographs showing Governor Aiyedatiwa hosting a prominent opposition senatorial candidate, saying the development had fuelled speculation among party members and raised unnecessary questions about political commitment at a critical period for the ruling party.
Describing grassroots politics as the battleground on which elections are won, the forum called for greater empowerment of local government councils, insisting that chairmen and councillors remain the party’s most effective political mobilisers.
Ijabiyi alleged that local councils were being financially constrained despite the constitutional push for local government autonomy and urged the state government to allow councils greater operational independence to deliver projects and reconnect governance with the electorate.
The forum reserved its strongest commendation for the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, whom it described as one of the APC’s most influential political assets in Ondo State.
According to Ijabiyi, growing public perception indicates that Tunji-Ojo has become a major pillar sustaining the image, popularity and electoral strength of the ruling party through his performance in office, humanitarian interventions and extensive grassroots engagement.
He noted that the Minister had continued to support numerous pro-Tinubu political groups across Ondo State while funding programmes that directly impact communities.
The forum specifically highlighted its ongoing medical outreach for elderly citizens, revealing that more than 5,000 beneficiaries had so far received free healthcare under the initiative fully sponsored by the Interior Minister.
In a symbolic expression of the Minister’s political significance, Ijabiyi declared, “BTO is the Nile of our party’s Egypt. No Nile, no Egypt,” urging President Tinubu to continue recognising party leaders who have remained steadfast in advancing the administration’s political objectives.
The APC elders also acknowledged growing concerns over the perceived political cold war between Governor Aiyedatiwa and the Interior Minister, warning that continued rivalry between their supporters could weaken the party’s electoral fortunes if left unresolved.
They appealed to both leaders to prioritise reconciliation and work together in the interest of the APC and President Tinubu’s re-election.
The forum equally called on party members aggrieved by the outcome of the APC primaries to put aside their grievances, remain loyal to the party and focus on the larger objective of retaining power at the federal and state levels.
Reaffirming its commitment to the APC, the PBAT Mandate Elders Forum said it had already commenced intensified grassroots mobilisation across Ondo State through community engagement, political sensitisation and welfare programmes aimed at strengthening public support for President Tinubu and the ruling party.
Ijabiyi concluded that the success of the APC in the 2027 elections would depend on unity, discipline and strategic mobilisation rather than internal rivalry.
He urged Governor Aiyedatiwa, ministers, elected officials, candidates and all stakeholders within the APC to close ranks, insisting that only a united political structure could secure a resounding victory for President Tinubu and all APC candidates in Ondo State.
