The All Progressives Congress (APC) is facing fresh internal crises following allegations that some aggrieved governors are backing opposition candidates in a bid to frustrate party candidates who emerged from the National Assembly primaries.
Politics Nigeria reports that the allegation was raised by the Oodua Progressive Youths League (OPYL), a South-West support group within the APC.
The group claimed that some governors became unhappy after their preferred aspirants failed to secure the party’s tickets during the primaries.
It alleged that the affected governors subsequently encouraged some of their preferred aspirants to seek tickets from opposition parties and contest against APC candidates.
In a statement issued by its General Secretary, Wale Abdulwaheed, OPYL alleged that the matter went beyond supporting opposition candidates.
The group claimed that some of the opposition candidates were being encouraged to nominate loyalists who remain members of the APC as polling agents.
According to the allegation, the names of such persons would then be forwarded to the APC National Secretariat in Abuja as agents of the ruling party.
The group said such an arrangement could create a situation where individuals loyal to opposition candidates would operate within the election-day structure of the APC.
Party agents play an important role during elections. They monitor proceedings at polling units, follow the counting of votes and sign relevant result sheets where applicable. They can also raise objections when they believe electoral procedures have been violated.
The OPYL particularly mentioned developments in Ondo State, where Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has been facing allegations of supporting politicians who are no longer contesting under the APC platform.
Aiyedatiwa has repeatedly rejected the allegation.
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 members of the party 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.
Those accusing me are naysayers, blackmailers and slanderers.
“I have zero tolerance for anti-party activities. I have never engaged in anti-party activities in my life. So, no to anti-party activities. Let’s support Mr President and all the candidates of our party,” he said.
The governor also stressed the importance of the party’s grassroots structure ahead of the elections.
“Elections are won at the polling units, and the polling units are right there in the wards, and you are the ward chairmen. Very, very important. You are occupying a significant role in the party structure,” he charged.
Aiyedatiwa directed the APC’s ward and local government executives to intensify mobilisation and maintain regular meetings ahead of the 2027 elections.
The governor’s position came amid claims by some party members that political structures were being created around him outside the formal APC structure.
A party source, however, accused the governor of being “disingenuous”, alleging that his political activities and those of his supporters pointed to an attempt to build a parallel political structure.
The source alleged that the appointment of about 1,000 Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants had strengthened the governor’s political network.
It further claimed that the structure was being deployed in support of the political arrangement known as the Rainbow Coalition. Recall, Politics Nigeria earlier reported that the APC Governors had rejected the ‘Rainbow Coalition’ led by the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike.
These claims have not been independently established, while Aiyedatiwa has maintained that he remains committed to the APC.
The allegations have also brought the names of several politicians into the dispute.
One of them is Matthew Oyerinmade, popularly known as MATO, who is now the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Ondo South Senatorial District.
Prince Idowu Mafimisebi, who is contesting the Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency seat on the PDP platform, was also mentioned.
Another name is Tajudeen Akinfisoye, popularly known as Small Alhaji. He lost the APC ticket for the Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency.
A source alleged that Akinfisoye was directed to seek the ticket of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and challenge the APC candidate, Festus Akingbaso.
The source also raised questions about the political relationship between Aiyedatiwa and Senator Ayo Akinyelure, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate for Ondo Central Senatorial District.
Akinyelure is associated with the ADC and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
The source questioned whether political support for Akinyelure could affect the APC’s candidate for the senatorial district, Senator Niyi Adegbonmire, SAN, as well as the wider APC campaign in the state.
“Is there a way that the governor will direct his supporters to mobilise votes for Akinyelure against the party’s candidate, Senator Niyi Adegbonmire, SAN, and such moves will not affect the votes for President Bola Tinubu and thereafter give huge votes to Atiku in Ondo Central?” the source queried.
The allegations have also extended to the selection of polling agents.
According to the source, Oyerinmade, Mafimisebi, Akinfisoye, Akinyelure and the Ondo North senatorial candidate of the Democratic Leadership Alliance, Chief Alex Ajipe, were allegedly encouraged to nominate persons who remain APC members as polling agents.
Hon. Abiola Makinde was also mentioned in the allegation.
Makinde represents the Ondo West/Ondo East Federal Constituency and is challenging in court the outcome of the APC primary that produced Dr Michael Ajilo.
The source alleged that Makinde had also been directed to submit names of agents for his constituency.
It claimed the names could subsequently be forwarded to the APC National Secretariat in Abuja as APC agents for the state.
“Also, Hon. Abiola Makinde, who represents the Ondo West/Ondo East Federal Constituency and is currently in court challenging the victory of Dr Michael Ajilo, who defeated him in the party’s primary, has been directed to submit the names of party agents for his federal constituency.
“The intention is to submit these names to the APC National Secretariat in Abuja as the party agents for APC in Ondo State.
“You know the power party agents possess on election day. This is part of the plot to ensure these APC National Assembly candidates fail,” the source alleged.