Ondo APC Elders Raise Alarm Over Ward Congress Crisis, Warn Of Party Division

Elders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State have sounded the alarm over deepening divisions within the party following the recent ward congress, warning that the crisis could jeopardise President Bola Tinubu's re-election prospects if left unresolved.

The PBAT Mandate Elders Forum, a group of party stalwarts committed to advancing the President's agenda, expressed their dissatisfaction with how the congress was conducted, citing widespread irregularities and violence that marred the exercise across several wards.

The ward congress, which took place across the state's 203 political wards, was meant to elect delegates for future party activities. However, reports from Idanre Local Government Area revealed a troubling pattern of disruption, with suspected hoodlums attacking party members, leaving many injured and a vehicle burnt in the process.

Among those caught in the crossfire was the brother of the APC state chairman, Raphael Adetimehin, who was reportedly assaulted by political thugs at his ward in Idanre. The incident has heightened tensions within the party hierarchy and raised questions about the security arrangements put in place for the exercise.

Despite these disruptions, the ward congress committee, led by Mrs Margaret Araruenu, declared the exercise successfully conducted—a claim that has been vigorously disputed by aggrieved party members.

Speaking at the group's monthly meeting in Akure, the state capital, the facilitator of the elders' forum, Dr Ademola Ijabiyi, lamented that the party had become divided due to the crisis. He stressed that the forum's primary objective is to advance the cause of President Tinubu's re-election, and anything that threatens that goal must be addressed urgently.

"We are basically here to advance the cause of President Bola Tinubu's re-election, and therefore, anything that can affect it must be addressed," Ijabiyi stated. "We cannot ignore what happened in our ward congress, where we had parallel congresses in most wards."

The elders revealed that they have already taken their concerns to the highest level, submitting a memo to President Tinubu detailing the situation and proposing solutions. They expressed confidence that the President would intervene to resolve the crisis and prevent a permanent division within the party in Ondo State.

"We have already written a memo to Mr President on what to be done regarding this crisis, and we are confident that he will act to resolve the situation in Ondo State so as not to create a permanent division within the party," Ijabiyi said.

The crisis has also brought to the fore speculation about a rift between Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, both prominent APC figures in the state. However, the elders dismissed these rumours, insisting that there is no conflict between the two leaders.

"As far as we, the elders, are concerned, we are not aware of any fight between them. If you ask the BTO, he will say there's nothing between him and the governor. But the ward congress has brought everything out, and now the party appears divided into two," Ijabiyi noted.

The Vice Chairman of the forum, Mr Olorunnibe Tawose, explained that the monthly meeting also served a humanitarian purpose, addressing the health needs of elderly members with support from the Interior Minister.

"One outcome is that the elders will leave this place happier because we have addressed their health needs. We conducted sugar, cholesterol, blood pressure, and prostate tests and provided necessary medications for those with borderline results," Tawose said.

The Ondo APC crisis is the latest in a series of internal conflicts that have plagued the party across various states, highlighting the challenges of managing competing interests within the ruling party. With the 2027 general elections approaching, the elders' warning underscores the urgency of resolving these disputes to present a united front at the polls.