Reported by: Puis Althea | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has been thrown into fresh turmoil as loyalists of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who failed to secure the party's tickets in the recently concluded National Assembly primaries, have approached the Federal High Court to challenge the outcome of the exercise. The aggrieved aspirants are challenging the APC National Working Committee and the Independent National Electoral Commission over the results of the primaries and the list of candidates submitted by the party to the electoral body. The legal action follows the failure of the governor's preferred aspirants to secure the APC tickets during the primaries.
The aggrieved aspirants have engaged the law firm of Remi Olatubora, SAN, to pursue the matter in court. Those involved in the legal action include Gbenga Elegbeleye (Ondo North Senatorial District), Dr Taiwo Fasoranti (Ondo Central Senatorial District), Leke Akingboye (Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency), Rasaq Obe (Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency), Kayode Ijalana (Owo/Ose Federal Constituency), Oyerinmade Matthew (Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo/Odigbo Federal Constituency), and Olumuyiwa Daramola (Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency).
The crisis stems from a review executed by the APC NWC, which relied on reports from its internal Appeals Committee to replace a total of 26 high-profile aspirants who had won their local primaries across nine states, including Ondo. In Ondo State specifically, the national leadership nullified the victories of several aspirants backed by Governor Aiyedatiwa, opting instead to return seven serving House of Representatives members and two incumbent Senators to the official candidate list forwarded to INEC. This maneuver has sparked outrage among the governor's grassroots base.
Party sources disclosed that the governor allegedly directed the affected aspirants to seek judicial redress after they lost the party's tickets despite being regarded as his preferred candidates. The legal challenge has reportedly generated concerns among some party stakeholders, who fear it could affect the APC's preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections. A party chieftain said the national leadership of the party was monitoring the matter, while urging members to resolve internal disputes through party mechanisms.
A similar dispute has emerged in Benue State, where some APC aspirants loyal to Governor Hyacinth Alia approached a Federal High Court in Abuja over the outcome of the National Assembly primaries. Justice I.E. Ekwo, while hearing Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1429/2026, directed parties involved to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the case. The court's directive means the parties are to maintain existing arrangements until the matter is resolved.
The escalating crisis threatens to fracture the APC's grassroots machinery in the South-West ahead of the critical 2027 general elections. Party insiders warned that the suits, if successful, could significantly affect the APC's preparations for the 2027 general elections.
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