Members of the Ondo State Executive Council All Progressives Congress (APC) are divided over support for candidates of the party in the 2027 general elections.

This development came as some members of the state executive and state appointees were accused of working against candidates recognised by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

This accusation has heightened tension within the state APC, particularly following the controversy surrounding the National Assembly primaries and the subsequent review of some of the candidates’ names by the party’s national leadership.

The State APC Women Leader, Princess Oluwayemisi Iji-Ayeola, is also facing threats of possible disciplinary action, including suspension, over her alleged refusal to align with the position attributed to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on the disputed candidates.

Some members of the party disclosed that the move to discipline the women leader was linked to her continued support for candidates recognised by the NWC, despite an alleged directive that members of the state executive of the party should support the governor’s preferred candidates on other political platforms outside the ruling party, APC.

Also, there are concerns over the alleged participation of some political appointees of the governor and APC executives at a campaign rally organised by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate for the Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency, Hon. Tajudeen Adefisoye, popularly known as Small Alhaji.

It was alleged that the governor is sponsoring some candidates who lost the APC primary elections in the Rainbow Coalition of the PDP led by Nyesom Wike and other political parties such as the Social Democratic Party(SDP) for the 2027 general elections.

A party member said the move against the women leader stemmed from her alleged refusal to comply with the governor’s position.

The source said, “She was expected to abide by the governor’s position, but she continued to identify with the candidates backed by the NWC. That is why the issue of her suspension is now being considered.”

The source further alleged that the disagreement also fueled the controversy over an 18-seater Hiace bus reportedly allocated to APC women leaders by the President’s wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, across the 36 states as part of preparations for next year’s election.

According to him, while similar buses were distributed to women leaders in other states, the one meant for the Ondo APC Women Leader was allegedly handed over to the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr Bosede Seun Osamaye, who, he said, claimed, was considered closer and more submissive to the governor and was reportedly driving women mobilization efforts for National Assembly candidates outside the APC.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has repeatedly denied sponsoring candidates against the APC, declaring that he had “zero tolerance for anti-party” activities and urged party members to support President Bola Tinubu and all APC candidates in the 2027 elections.

The governor, while appearing on national television, said there was nothing wrong with the Rainbow Coalition associated with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, provided its objective was to support Tinubu’s re-election.

Aiyedatiwa said his state remained “APC all the way” but maintained that he had no problem with Wike or the coalition.

The governor said, “Politics is about interests, relationships, alliances, if you like. So, Rainbow Coalition being led by His Excellency Honourable Minister Nyesom Wike, there is nothing wrong with having a coalition or alliances; it’s all about interests, who wants to be part of that, you choose.”

He added that if the coalition was operating as a support group for Tinubu, “what is wrong with that? Nothing.”

Adefisoye, a former member of the House of Representatives, officially flagged off his SDP campaign in Idanre on October 6, with party leaders, supporters and other stakeholders in attendance.

An APC chieftain in Idanre, who spoke in confidence, alleged that several political appointees of Aiyedatiwa attended the rally and some were seen wearing SDP colours.

The chieftain said, “The governor cannot exonerate himself from these allegations of anti-party activities. We all know that the over 1,800 aides he recently appointed are for anti-party activities.

“For instance, here in Idanre, the majority of the people he appointed as SSAs and SAs are supporters of the SDP House of Representatives candidate. So, tell me how those appointees will work for the APC candidates on election day.

“On Tuesday, when Hon. Adefisoye held a rally in Idanre, many of these Aiyedatiwa’s aides attended. They did not even hide it; they also wore SDP attire. We have their photographs and videos. The most shameful aspect was that the APC Youth Leader in Idanre also attended and wore the SDP cap.”

Aiyedatiwa’s camp has consistently rejected allegations that the governor is sponsoring opposition candidates against the APC, insisting that he remains committed to the party and President Tinubu’s re-election.

At the September stakeholders’ meeting with APC local government and ward chairmen in Akure, the governor specifically denied asking any APC member or candidate to contest under another political platform.

“I did not ask any candidate to contest in any other party; it is all lies,” he said, while reiterating his support for the APC and its candidates.