As the All Progressives Congress prepares for its primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections, party leaders in Akure South Local Government of Ondo State have called on the state and national leadership not to impose candidates.
The leaders emphasised that aspirants emerging from the primaries must be loyal party members with strong grassroots connections to effectively represent the people.
This position was outlined in a communiqué issued on Sunday after a meeting of the leaders in Akure.
The communiqué was signed by the chairman of the group, Mr Tony Ala, along with other APC leaders in the local government.
According to the communiqué, the group urged the party to ensure that only credible, competent, and popular aspirants emerge as the party’s candidates in the forthcoming primaries. They warned against imposing candidates who lack public support.
The leaders also endorsed the call for an Akure indigene to succeed the incumbent governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, stating that the state capital is due to produce the next governor.
The communiqué read in part: “The leaders firmly rejected the imposition of automatic tickets for any aspirants in the Akure region and emphasised that only ‘credible, competent, and widely acceptable aspirants’ should emerge for elective positions. They noted that unpopular candidates have historically weakened electoral outcomes in the area.
“The leaders resolved to strategically position a qualified indigene of Akure for the governorship election of Ondo State after Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa’s tenure and to work collectively towards achieving victory.”
For the state and national assembly election primaries, the leaders unanimously endorsed two aspirants for the area: a former aide of Governor Aiyedatiwa, Mr Oluwafemi Fadairo, for the Akure North/Akure South Federal House of Representatives seat, and former Director of Administration to the Senate, Adeola Fynch, for the Ondo State House of Assembly, Akure South Constituency I.
The endorsements, the leaders said, were based on the aspirants’ loyalty, grassroots connection, and perceived capacity to effectively represent the people.
The leaders also passed a vote of confidence in Aiyedatiwa for his inclusive governance and efforts at maintaining party stability. They expressed readiness to mobilise support for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
The communiqué added: “We applaud the governor’s inclusive leadership style and people-oriented governance and pledge continued collaboration with stakeholders to support his administration.
“We also unanimously passed a vote of confidence in Governor Aiyedatiwa in recognition of his exceptional qualities as the leader of the APC in Ondo, strategic foresight, and steadfastness in navigating the affairs of the state.”
An indigene of Akure, Mr Eyitayo Jegede, had contested twice for the state governorship under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party in 2016 and 2020 against the late former Governor Rotimi Akeredolu but lost the elections.
Since the creation of the state in 1976, no indigene of the community has contested or become governor before.
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