The Candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 National Assembly elections in Ondo State have wooed members of the party to accept the outcome of the party’s primaries and refrain from protests.
The candidates, who were declared the winners after the appeal committee of the National Working Committee (NWC), said unity is crucial to the party’s success in the forthcoming elections.
Speaking on Friday in Akure, the state capital, while addressing journalists after returning from Abuja, where the APC concluded uploading the results of its National Assembly primary elections, the candidates harped on unity and togetherness of the members.
The House of Representatives candidates of the party were welcome to rousing reception and a welcome party by party members at the Akure Airport
Speaking during the interview, the candidate for Ondo West/Ondo East Federal Constituency, Michael Akintomide, urged party members to remain calm, insisting that the National Working Committee (NWC) had concluded the primary process in line with the party’s constitution.
According to him, members should respect the supremacy of the party and ignore narratives on social media capable of creating further divisions within the APC.
According to him, ”There is no need for agitation. For clarity’s sake, the National Working Committee has spoken, and there is party supremacy. Whatever they are saying on social media that is contrary to the position of the party should be ignored. Even if there are protests, don’t join them. Believe in the process. The process has produced credible candidates.”
Akintomide, popularly known as Ajilo, also reaffirmed that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa remains the leader of the APC in Ondo State, expressing confidence that the governor and the party leadership at the national level would work together in the interest of the party.
Speaking on the post-primary disagreements, Akintomide dismissed fears that the situation could affect the APC’s chances in the 2027 general elections, describing such disagreements as a normal aftermath of party primaries.
His words : “People have the right to express their displeasure. However, at the end of the day, we will come to the round table and understand that the party is superior to every personal interest. We will all come together as one and emerge victorious.”
The APC candidate for Irele/Okitipupa Federal Constituency, Hon Jimi Odimayo, also called on party members to rally behind all the candidates produced by the primaries, saying the APC remained one united family despite differing interests during the contest.
Odimayo thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC National Working Committee and the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for their roles in the primary process and urged members to work for the success of the party at all levels.
His words: ”I advise all party members to accept the candidates of the party. I advise them to unite and work for the progress of the party. We have a fantastic relationship. It’s one family.”
In his remark, the Director-General of the Asiwaju Mandate Group (AMG) in Ondo State, Olumuyiwa Asagunla, said the reception organised for the candidates was to appreciate President Tinubu and the APC National Working Committee for their support for Ondo State and the party.
Asagunla said the group had continued to mobilise, sensitise and empower residents across the state since its inauguration in March 2024, expressing optimism that the APC would improve on its performance in the 2027 elections.
He attributed the confidence to what he described as the achievements of the Tinubu administration and developmental interventions attracted to Ondo State, adding that the group would sustain its grassroots mobilisation to ensure victory for all APC candidates.
He, however, stressed the need for reconciliation within the party, urging members to place the APC above individual ambitions and work together as one family to secure victory in the forthcoming general elections.