APC CIVIL WAR LOOMS IN ILAJE/ESE-ODO AS Donald Kimikanboh Ojogo Defies Governor’s Consensus Deal
A major political confrontation is rapidly unfolding within the All Progressives Congress in Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency as the camp loyal to Donald Kimikanboh Ojogo appears set for a direct political battle against the structure reportedly aligned with Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa ahead of the party’s May 15 primary election.
Investigations by Arogbo-Ibe Voice Reporters indicate that political tension has intensified following a high-level stakeholders’ meeting involving delegates from the 18 local government areas of the state, where consensus candidates were reportedly adopted for several elective positions as part of efforts to maintain internal unity within the APC.
Among those allegedly endorsed through the consensus arrangement was Leke Akinboye for the Ilaje/Ese-Odo House of Representatives seat currently occupied by Ojogo.
However, in what political observers now describe as a major resistance to the governor-backed arrangement, the Ojogo camp reportedly rejected the consensus decision and proceeded to obtain both interest and nomination forms for the primary election.
Sources within the APC confirmed that both Donald Kimikanboh Ojogo and Leke Akinboye have successfully passed the party’s screening process, paving the way for what many now predict could become one of the fiercest APC primary contests in recent Ondo political history.
The political crisis has also deepened tensions within Arogbo axis following complaints over the reported zoning of the Ese-Odo Constituency House of Assembly ticket to the Apoi axis for continuity.
The development has generated reactions among several stakeholders in Arogbo communities, many of whom argue that the position should have been zoned to Arogbo based on political equity, fairness, and rotational balancing.
Despite the controversy, Toyin Allen, who is reportedly seeking another four-year tenure, has also successfully scaled through the APC screening process.
In another dramatic twist, Arogbo-born aspirant Ebigha Iwabi reportedly obtained his interest and nomination forms to challenge the alleged consensus arrangement for the House of Assembly seat.
Meanwhile, Ojogo’s recent public declaration insisting that he remains fully prepared for a direct primary election has continued to generate strong reactions across the constituency.
In the statement, the federal lawmaker urged his supporters to remain steadfast and ignore alleged intimidation, rumours of membership card hoarding, and political pressure, while confidently declaring that “victory is certain.”
Political analysts say the unfolding crisis has now exposed a widening crack between two powerful political blocs within the Ondo APC structure, the camp reportedly linked to Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, popularly known in political circles as the BTO camp, and the political structure loyal to Governor Aiyedatiwa.
Observers warn that unless urgent reconciliation efforts are initiated before the May 15 primary election, the growing confrontation could deepen internal divisions within the APC and potentially reshape political alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
As uncertainty continues to build across Ilaje/Ese-Odo, party members, grassroots supporters, and political stakeholders are anxiously watching to see whether the APC leadership will insist on consensus or allow a full-scale democratic contest at the primaries.
At the time of filing this report, no official response had been issued by the state APC leadership regarding the growing tensions surrounding the primary process.
