Politics, Power, Poor Alliance Management and Leadership Deficit in Ondo State.

Politics, Power, Poor Alliance Management and Leadership Deficit in Ondo State.

by Wale Obanigba, Esq.

When Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa inherited the governorship in December 2023 following the death of his principal, Rotimi Akeredolu, the state was already deeply divided among contending factions. The political environment was sharply polarised, with internal distrust, competing blocs, and unresolved tensions defining the structure of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Unfortunately, since assuming office, Governor Aiyedatiwa has not been able to stabilise this fractured foundation. Rather, the trajectory so far points to further widening cracks within the political structure, driven largely by strained relationships and a pattern of political disengagement.

In my earlier reflection titled “Aiyedatiwa and the Politics of Discarded Allies in Ondo State” (Monday, 6th April, 2026), I examined how politics often tests loyalty, and how those who stand firmly with leaders during moments of crisis usually expect recognition and inclusion when power is consolidated. In that article, I argued that a trend was emerging in Ondo politics where key allies who played decisive roles in stabilising Aiyedatiwa’s political survival were increasingly being sidelined or politically diminished.

The concern today is no longer limited to past political alignments but extends to present governance dynamics. The working relationship between the Governor and the two ministers representing Ondo State (until recently, when Mr. Taiwo Oyedele was appointed), Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo of the Interior Ministry and Ayodele Olawande of the Ministry of Youth Development, does not reflect the level of coordination expected for the benefit of the state. Instead of a functional partnership capable of leveraging federal presence for Ondo’s development, there are visible signs of distance and strained engagement, reinforcing concerns about the lack of synergy between the state leadership and key federal actors from Ondo State.

This pattern becomes even more pronounced in the Governor’s relationship with members of the National Assembly. There is hardly any evidence to suggest that any of the senators representing Ondo State currently maintains a cordial working relationship with him. More significantly, it is now widely perceived that the Governor is actively backing moves to replace the two remaining senators, Adeniyi Adegbonmire and Jide Ipinsagba, ahead of the next electoral cycle. This underscores a governing style that leans more toward displacing existing actors than building consensus and sustaining cohesion.

If this approach succeeds, Ondo State risks losing the advantage of having ranking senators, a key factor in securing leadership positions in the upper chamber. The question then is, whose loss will that be?

The same concern extends to the House of Representatives. The nine federal lawmakers from Ondo State do not appear to operate in close coordination with the Governor. Even Abiola Makinde, who once stood firmly with the Governor and played a significant role in his election, is now believed to have fallen out of favour.

A useful comparison can be drawn with neighbouring Ekiti State, where Governor Biodun Oyebanji has deliberately cultivated a broad coalition of stakeholders. In Ekiti, there is visible alliance between the Governor, former governors, and political office holders at the federal level, resulting in a more stable and unified political environment. In Ondo State, however, the reverse appears to be the case. Instead of consolidation, there is fragmentation, and instead of inclusion, there is increasing political distance.

In my view, the rising political volatility in Ondo State, particularly within the APC, is largely driven by the inability of Governor Aiyedatiwa to effectively manage the competing interests of key stakeholders. Politics, by its nature, requires careful balancing of interests, alliances, and expectations. Where this balance is absent, instability becomes inevitable. Put simply, the current approach appears to be heating up the polity rather than stabilising it.

Even with reports making the rounds that governors of APC-controlled states may spearhead the conduct of primary elections in their respective states, such an arrangement does not confer automatic powers on Governor Aiyedatiwa to unilaterally determine candidates without the input of other critical stakeholders, many of whom he currently maintains strained relationships with.

Ultimately, governance is fundamentally about people and relationships.

If a Governor struggles to harmonise relationships among senators, federal lawmakers, ministers, and party stakeholders, it raises a deeper governance concern. If human resources within the political system cannot be effectively managed, it becomes difficult to expect efficient management of financial resources, hence the underperformance increasingly associated with the current administration.

Wale Obanigba, a legal practitioner, writes from Akure.