•Women leader faces possible suspension on NWC-backed candidates
•Aiyedatiwa’s aides, APC officials linked to SDP rally
Fresh crisis has erupted within the Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over alleged anti-party activities, with the state women leader, Princess Oluwayemisi Iji-Ayeola, facing possible disciplinary action for allegedly backing candidates recognised by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
The fresh crisis also comes amid allegations that some of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s political appointees and APC officials attended the Tuesday campaign rally of the SDP candidate for Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency, Honourable Taju-deen Adefisoye, popularly known as Small Alhaji, in Idanre.
The allegations have further deepened the crisis arising from the disputed National Assembly primaries and the subsequent review of some candidates by the APC national leadership.
Sources within the party alleged that Iji-Ayeola came under pressure after refusing to abandon candidates backed by the NWC in favour of those allegedly preferred by the governor. “She was expected to abide by the governor’s position, but she continued to identify with the candidates backed by the NWC. That is why the issue of her suspension is now being considered,” a source said. Another unresolved issue is the controversy over an 18-seater Hiace bus reportedly allocated to APC women leaders nationwide by the wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
A source alleged that the vehicle meant for the Ondo women leader was instead handed over to the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr Bosede Seun Osamaje.
The source claimed that the commissioner was closer to the governor and had been involved in women mobilisation for some National Assembly candidates outside the APC. Meanwhile, an APC chieftain in Idanre alleged that several of Aiyedatiwa’s aides attended Adefisoye’s SDP campaign rally, with some allegedly wearing SDP colours.
“Many of these Aiyedatiwa’s aides attended. They did not even hide it; they also wore SDP attire. We have their photographs and videos,” the chieftain alleged.
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The chieftain added that the APC youth leader in Idanre also attended the rally wearing an SDP cap.
The allegations have fuelled speculation that some actors within the governor’s camp may be backing candidates contesting outside the APC.
Aiyedatiwa, however, has consistently denied sponsoring opposition candidates or directing APC members to contest on other platforms.
At an APC stakeholders’ meeting in Akure in September, he said: “I did not ask any candidate to contest in any other party; it is all lies.”
The governor also declared that Ondo remained “APC all the way” and reiterated his support for President Bola Tinubu and APC candidates.
However, while appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today on October 5, Aiyedatiwa said he had no problem with the Rainbow Coalition associated with FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, if its objective was to support Tinubu’s re-election. He said politics was about “interests, relationships, alliances,” arguing that there was nothing wrong with a coalition supporting the President.
The conflicting developments have raised fresh questions about the cohesion of the Ondo APC ahead of 2027, particularly whether the unresolved National Assembly ticket crisis is now evolving into a broader struggle over the party’s political machinery and loyalty.
