A coalition of stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has expressed support for the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) over its decision to review the outcome of the party’s senatorial and House of Representatives primary elections in the state.
The group, operating under the name Ondo APC Progressive Minds Alliance (OPMA), said the review was carried out in accordance with the APC constitution and was aimed at protecting the credibility of the party’s internal democratic process.
Speaking on behalf of the alliance, the coordinator, Wole Ogunlade, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and APC National Chairman Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda for what he described as their commitment to due process and party discipline.
According to him, the NWC acted within its constitutional powers in reviewing petitions arising from the primaries and ensuring that appeals were fairly considered before final decisions were taken on the party’s candidates.
The group also praised Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, describing his leadership and loyalty to the party as worthy of commendation.
OPMA, however, alleged that efforts were being made by some interests within the Ondo State government to discredit the NWC over the changes made to the list of candidates. The alliance claimed that government resources were being used to project the national leadership in a negative light, a development it said could create unnecessary divisions within the ruling party.
The coalition maintained that the changes to some senatorial and House of Representatives candidates followed established party procedures and were based on appeals and reports of irregularities received after the primaries.
The group urged aggrieved party members to seek redress through the APC’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms rather than organising public protests capable of damaging the party’s image ahead of future elections.
It also announced plans to embark on a statewide sensitisation campaign across the 18 local government areas of Ondo State to explain the reasons behind the NWC’s decisions and encourage party unity.
Speaking separately, OPMA Women Leader, Mrs. Lolade Adubiaro, distanced the alliance from recent protests by some women and youths over the revised candidates’ list. She insisted that the demonstrations did not reflect the position of the majority of APC women in the state.
Adubiaro called on the Ondo State Government to focus on governance while avoiding actions that could deepen disagreements within the party, stressing that unity remained essential to the APC’s success in future elections.