Ondo APC State Congress: Gov. Aiyedatiwa Says Official Result Still Being Awaited

By Ayodele Oni 

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa has retracted his position on the state Congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC), held last  Tuesday, in Akure as he declared that the leadership of the party is yet to declare the results of its congress.

Aiyedatiwa made the declaration during a Media Chat held in Akure, the state capital.

The APC had recently conducted its Ward, Local Government and State congresses amid crisis leading to the killing of three party faithful.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), had distance itself from the conduct of the state congress held on Tuesday, March 3, citing a Federal High Court order that put the congress on hold.

Speaking on the conduct of the congress during the Media Chat, Aiyedatiwa said the results of the recently conducted congress in the state have not yet been officially announced by the APC leadership.

The governor noted that although the congress had been held at the ward, local government and state levels, the party was yet to formally release the outcome.

“We had our congress at the ward level, the local government and at the state.

“All of that has been done, but the party will eventually release the results because that has not been announced,” Aiyedatiwa declared.

“APC is one in Ondo State. We are not divided, but interest differs when it comes to political positions. That is politics,” he said.

In his opinion, Aiyedatiwa pointed out that competition among party members seeking positions often created tension, noting that such disagreements should not be seen as division in the ruling party.

According to him, “You may have five aspirants contesting for one office, each with their followers. Naturally there will be push and pull. That is what people are seeing. It is not as if the party is divided.”

On the allegations that some members of the party were being marginalised, the governor described the claim as untrue, saying his administration had ensured inclusiveness in political appointments and party activities.

At the state congress, a former member of the House of Representatives, Mr.Babatunde emerged alongside 35 other members of the State Working Committee through consensus and affirmation by delegates.

Governor Aiyedatiwa, who addressed party members at the event, described the congress as a reaffirmation of the party’s unity and internal democracy.

“Today’s congress is more than a routine political exercise. It is a reaffirmation of our shared commitment to party supremacy, unity, inclusiveness and discipline,” the governor said.

He commended aspirants who stepped down to allow consensus and urged members to prioritise the collective interest of the party over personal ambitions.

In his acceptance speech titled “A New Dawn of Unity and Progress,” Babatunde pledged to run an inclusive and transparent administration, declaring that there was no winner or loser in the exercise.

“There is no winner or loser. I am for all, and against none,” he said, promising to strengthen grassroots mobilisation and deepen internal democracy within the party.

The National Secretariat of the APC had declared that it directed Ondo Congress Committee to stand down in compliance with the interim order of the Federal High Court restraining the conduct and recognition of its congresses in Ondo State.

APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Bashiru, insisted that the ruling party remains law-abiding despite disagreeing with the court’s decision.

According to him, the party immediately directed its congress committee in Ondo State to halt further actions upon becoming aware of the court order.

“We woke up to a court order by the Federal High Court, and as a law-abiding party, we directed our team in that place to wait until the order is vacated or there is a contrary order from the court,” Bashiru said.