- Ondo APC chairman Babatunde Kolawole dismisses reports of division within the party.
- Party sets a target of at least one million votes for President Bola Tinubu in Ondo State.
- Reconciliation committee begins efforts to resolve grievances among aggrieved members and aspirants.
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State, Babatunde Kolawole, has dismissed reports of division within the party, describing the disagreements among members as normal political differences that can be resolved ahead of the 2027 elections.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Kolawole, a former member of the House of Representatives, stated this in an interview where he also disclosed that the party is targeting at least one million votes for President Bola Tinubu in the state.
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According to him, the APC has internal mechanisms for addressing disagreements and has already established a reconciliation committee to engage aggrieved members following the party’s recent primaries.
He said the party had gone through several political activities, including congresses, conventions, by-elections and primaries for the State House of Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate, noting that disagreements were expected to arise from such processes.
“Political activities will always result in one issue or another,” Kolawole said, explaining that the party’s leadership would now focus on resolving disputes that emerged from the various processes.
The APC chairman rejected claims that the party was splitting in Ondo State, insisting that the disagreements were not strong enough to threaten its unity.
He also pointed to his personal experience as an example of how party members could remain committed despite losing political contests.
Kolawole disclosed that he had contested for a return to the House of Representatives but was denied the ticket. Rather than abandon the party, he said he accepted the leadership’s decision and later served as a special adviser to the government.
He urged other aggrieved members to express their concerns while remaining open to reconciliation.
APC sets one million-vote target for Tinubu
Speaking on the 2027 presidential election, Kolawole said the Ondo APC was determined to deliver a strong performance for President Tinubu.
He said Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa had declared the state’s support for Tinubu and that the party leadership was working towards securing a minimum of one million votes for the President.
According to him, achieving the target would require the collective efforts of party leaders, members and support groups across the state.
The chairman said the reconciliation committee had already commenced work and would reach out to members who were dissatisfied with the outcome of the primaries, including those who had taken their grievances to court.
He maintained that the party would continue to follow its constitution and internal processes in addressing complaints.
Kolawole denies rift among APC leaders
The APC chairman also dismissed reports of a rift between the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and Governor Aiyedatiwa.
Kolawole said he had met with Tunji-Ojo and other ministers on several occasions and maintained that the party had a good relationship with its political stakeholders.
He also rejected claims that some support groups were more loyal to Tunji-Ojo than the governor, saying the groups were working towards the interests of the APC and President Tinubu.
According to him, about 84 support groups have registered with the party, and their participation would be important in the effort to achieve the one-million-vote target.
He emphasised the importance of grassroots mobilisation, saying political activities should not be concentrated in the state capital.
APC chairman dismisses opposition threat
Kolawole further rejected suggestions that opposition parties could pose a serious threat to the APC in the state.
While acknowledging the existence of opposition parties and candidates ahead of the elections, he attributed what he described as growing support for the APC to the achievements of the Tinubu administration.
He cited projects and policies including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, road construction, the student loan scheme and the removal of fuel subsidy as examples of the administration’s interventions.
Kolawole said the APC would continue to strengthen its structures at both the state and grassroots levels as it prepares for the 2027 elections.
He expressed confidence that the party would resolve its internal disagreements and enter the elections as a united political force.
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