The All Progressives Congress (APC) is facing fresh internal tension following allegations that some aggrieved governors are backing opposition candidates to undermine party candidates who emerged from the National Assembly primaries.
The allegation was raised by the Oodua Progressive Youths League (OPYL), a South-West support group within the APC.
In a statement issued by its General Secretary, Wale Abdulwaheed, the group claimed that some governors became dissatisfied after their preferred aspirants failed to secure the party’s tickets.
According to OPYL, the affected governors allegedly encouraged some of the aspirants to obtain tickets from opposition parties and contest against APC candidates.
The group further alleged that the reported plan extended to the nomination of polling agents.
It claimed that some opposition candidates were being encouraged to nominate loyalists who remain members of the APC as polling agents, after which their names would allegedly be forwarded to the APC National Secretariat in Abuja as official agents of the ruling party.
OPYL warned that such an arrangement could allow individuals loyal to opposition candidates to operate within the APC’s election-day structure.
The allegations particularly referenced developments in Ondo State, where Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has faced accusations of supporting politicians contesting under other political platforms.
Aiyedatiwa has repeatedly denied the allegations.
Speaking at a recent meeting with APC local government and ward chairmen in Akure, the governor said he had no involvement in anti-party activities and urged party members to support APC candidates.
“Some people are spreading falsehoods against me. I did not ask any candidate to contest in any other party; it is all lies,” he said.
Aiyedatiwa added that he had “zero tolerance for anti-party activities” and called on party members to support President Bola Tinubu and all APC candidates.
He also directed ward and local government executives to intensify grassroots mobilisation and maintain regular meetings ahead of the 2027 elections.
However, a party source accused the governor of being “disingenuous,” alleging that his political activities and those of his supporters suggested an attempt to establish a parallel political structure.
The source claimed that the appointment of about 1,000 Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants had strengthened the governor’s political network, which it alleged was being used to support the political arrangement known as the Rainbow Coalition.
The claims have not been independently established, while Governor Aiyedatiwa maintains that he remains committed to the APC.
Several politicians were also mentioned in connection with the allegations, including Matthew Oyerinmade, popularly known as MATO, who is contesting the Ondo South Senatorial District seat on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Prince Idowu Mafimisebi, the PDP candidate for the Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency, was also named.
Another politician mentioned was Tajudeen Akinfisoye, popularly known as Small Alhaji, who reportedly lost the APC ticket for the Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency.
A source alleged that Akinfisoye was encouraged to seek the ticket of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and contest against the APC candidate, Festus Akingbaso.
Questions were also raised about the political relationship between Governor Aiyedatiwa and Senator Ayo Akinyelure, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate for Ondo Central Senatorial District.
The source questioned whether alleged support for Akinyelure could affect the APC’s candidate for the district, Senator Niyi Adegbonmire, SAN, as well as the party’s wider campaign in the state.
The allegations further extended to the selection of polling agents involving several candidates, including Oyerinmade, Mafimisebi, Akinfisoye, Akinyelure and Ondo North senatorial candidate of the Democratic Leadership Alliance, Chief Alex Ajipe.
Hon. Abiola Makinde, who represents the Ondo West/Ondo East Federal Constituency and is challenging in court the APC primary that produced Dr Michael Ajilo, was also mentioned.
The source alleged that Makinde had been directed to submit names of polling agents for his constituency, claiming that the names could later be forwarded to the APC National Secretariat as official APC agents for Ondo State.
The allegations remain unverified, and no independent evidence has been presented to establish that the alleged arrangement is in place.
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