The Asiwaju Mandate Group (AMG) has alleged that the leadership style of Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, is deepening divisions within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state and could undermine the party’s fortunes ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The group therefore called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC, led by Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, to urgently intervene to restore unity, internal democracy, and cohesion within the Ondo State chapter of the party.
The position was contained in a statement read by the Director-General of the group, Asiwaju Olumuyiwa Asagunla, during a press conference held on Wednesday at the AMG Secretariat in Akure.
The statement was read by the Director-General of the group, Asiwaju Olumuyiwa Asagunla, who said the briefing became necessary out of what he described as “a profound sense of duty, patriotism, and an urgent need to salvage the APC in Ondo State from an impending political catastrophe.”
The group commended President Tinubu for what it called his “visionary leadership” of the country and also applauded the APC National Working Committee led by Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda for preserving discipline and stability within the ruling party.
AMG, however, expressed dissatisfaction with the leadership style of Ondo State Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, alleging that it has weakened cohesion within the party.
According to Asagunla, “We can no longer sit idly by while the self-serving, exclusionary, and high-handed leadership style of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa systematically dismantles the structures of unity and cohesion that took years of sacrifice to build.”
The group alleged that the recently concluded APC primary elections for the National Assembly and the Ondo State House of Assembly exposed deep divisions within the party.
It claimed that rather than strengthening internal democracy, the primary process generated grievances among party members and stakeholders.
“The recent APC primary elections exposed the deep fractures within our ranks. What ought to have been a transparent, democratic showcase of party supremacy was instead reduced to a theatre of manipulation.” Asagunla stated.
The organisation also accused the governor of failing to build sustainable relationships with party leaders despite the support he allegedly received during his political journey.
“It is deeply ironic and tragic to witness the short political memory of Governor Aiyedatiwa. Not long ago, when the dark clouds of impeachment loomed over him as Deputy Governor, it was the collective resilience, institutional support, and structural defence of this party that shielded him.” He said.
The group further alleged that appointments under the present administration have been made without adequate consultation with party stakeholders.
“The lifeblood of political relevance and democratic stability is continuous rapport, consultative engagement, and inclusive governance. Unfortunately, Governor Aiyedatiwa is currently suffering from a severe case of ‘wanting to have it all’ syndrome.” Asagunla added.
On the recent Ondo South Senatorial District by-election, AMG argued that the outcome reflected declining grassroots mobilisation within the party.
The group noted that although the senatorial district has over 673,000 registered voters, only about 70,770 votes were cast, while the APC candidate secured 68,474 votes.
“For a sitting Governor to be unable to mobilise even a minor fraction of the registered voters in his own home turf is a terrible indictment.” The statement said.
AMG also expressed concern over what it described as attempts to replace experienced National Assembly members with newcomers, warning that such a move could weaken Ondo State’s influence at the federal legislature. He said “in the parliament, hierarchy, ranking, and institutional experience are the currencies of influence. The attempt by the Governor to replace the experienced ones with political neophytes is not forward-thinking approach.”
The group equally criticised a recent protest allegedly led by the Ondo State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Seun Osamaye, against decisions of the APC National Working Committee on the party’s candidates’ list, describing it as an affront to party supremacy.
Concluding, AMG appealed to President Tinubu and the APC National Working Committee to intervene in the affairs of the Ondo State chapter of the party.
“We implore our Leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to look passionately into the political wilderness that Ondo State is fast becoming under Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa. Governor Aiyedatiwa must be reminded that he is a product of the party, not its master. The systematic exclusion must stop, the disrespect to our leaders must end, and a genuine, all-inclusive reconciliation process must be initiated immediately.” Asagunla said.
The group maintained that its intervention was aimed at preserving unity within the APC and strengthening the party ahead of future elections.
