After NASS primary defeat, Aiyedatiwa accused of opening talks with ADC

Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa is reportedly in talks with the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), a development that has intensified the crisis within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. The allegations gained momentum after the governor was photographed with Senator Ayo Akinyelure, the ADC's Ondo Central Senatorial candidate for 2027, and attended his 70th birthday celebration.

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We are aware of the games of Mr. Governor since his preferred aspirants lost the party tickets. We are aware that he instigated some of the aspirants to challenge the decision of the party in court.

These events occurred shortly after some of Aiyedatiwa's favored aspirants lost their bids for National Assembly tickets in the APC primaries. Party insiders suggest this alleged alliance with the ADC, whose presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has Akinyelure as a key supporter in the state, is a strategic move by the governor following his primary defeats.

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One thing Aiyedatiwa has failed to understand is that he became governor due to the benevolence of our great party and our national leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. If the decision of the party didn’t favour him this time, he shouldn’t be working against the interest of the party and President Tinubu.

APC chieftains expressed concern, stating that while the party doesn't dictate the governor's associations, the alleged alliance with opposition figures is disturbing. They pointed to Akinyelure's frequent presence with the governor after Aiyedatiwa's preferred candidate for the Ondo Central ticket, Dr. Taiwo Fasoranti, lost to incumbent Senator Niyi Adegbonmire. Some leaders also accused the governor of instigating court challenges against primary decisions and directing loyalists to contest on other platforms.

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The Government House Chapel is a public place of worship. Just like the Mosque within the Government House premises, the Chapel is open to all citizens, religious leaders and public officials who wish to worship. It is not an APC-only facility.

However, the governor's Chief Press Secretary, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, vehemently denied the claims. He dismissed the reports as "false, misleading and a deliberate attempt to manufacture controversy." Adeniyan clarified that the Government House Chapel is a public place of worship, open to all citizens regardless of political affiliation, and not an exclusive APC facility.

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false, misleading and a deliberate attempt to manufacture controversy.