Reported by: Althiea .P | Edited by: Bornet .k
The Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has distanced itself from comments by former Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Razaq Obe, who warned that internal disputes within the party could threaten President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s chances of retaining Ondo State in the 2027 presidential election.
The party leadership said Obe’s remarks represented his personal opinion and did not reflect the official position of the APC, the Ondo State Government or party stakeholders in the state.
The controversy followed comments made by Obe, who was an aspirant for the Ifedore/Idanre Federal Constituency seat, after losing the APC ticket to the incumbent lawmaker, Festus Akingbaso. He raised concerns over dissatisfaction among some party members following the outcome of recent primary elections.
Speaking during an interview, Obe argued that unresolved grievances from the primaries could weaken the party’s structure ahead of the 2027 elections. He warned that the consequences could extend beyond legislative contests and affect President Tinubu’s support base in the state.
Obe said many party members felt excluded by the primary process and cautioned that ignoring their concerns could create electoral challenges for the APC. He recalled that similar internal disagreements in previous election cycles had affected the party’s performance in some areas of Ondo State.
Reacting to the development in Akure, the Ondo APC Chairman, Hon. Kolawole Babatunde, said Obe was entitled to his personal views but had no mandate to speak on behalf of the party.
Babatunde stated that political disagreements were normal after party primaries and insisted that the issues within the APC were not strong enough to divide the organisation or affect its electoral prospects.
“Every aspirant has the constitutional right to express personal opinions, but such views do not represent the position of the party,” Babatunde said, according to reports.
The party chairman explained that internal mechanisms had already been activated to address complaints arising from the primary elections. He said review processes had been conducted and recommendations forwarded to relevant party authorities.
As part of efforts to restore unity, the Ondo APC leadership established a reconciliation committee headed by Prince Biyi Poroye, Chairman of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC). The committee was tasked with engaging aggrieved aspirants and party members to resolve disputes and strengthen cohesion.
The development comes as political parties across Nigeria begin preparations for the 2027 general elections, with internal unity becoming a major focus for parties seeking electoral advantage.
Ondo State has remained a strong political base for the APC, particularly in the South-West region. President Tinubu secured significant support in the state during the 2023 presidential election, a factor party leaders have repeatedly highlighted while expressing confidence about the next election cycle.
However, Obe’s warning has drawn attention to concerns about managing internal party disagreements, especially after primary elections where some aspirants and their supporters often feel dissatisfied with outcomes.
Another APC chieftain, Chief Olusola Oke (SAN), rejected suggestions that the party’s internal disagreements could prevent Tinubu from winning Ondo State in 2027. Oke argued that political disputes after primaries were common and would be resolved before the elections.
Oke maintained that APC remained the dominant political force in Ondo and expressed confidence that President Tinubu would perform strongly in the state during the next presidential contest.
The disagreement highlights the challenges facing political parties as they prepare for another election cycle, where maintaining internal loyalty and resolving disputes among aspirants and supporters are considered critical factors.
For the Ondo APC leadership, the immediate priority is rebuilding unity among members and ensuring that disagreements from the primary elections do not affect the party’s wider political ambitions.
As the 2027 elections draw closer, the ability of the APC and other political parties to manage internal conflicts is expected to play a major role in shaping Nigeria’s political landscape.
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