Some aggrieved governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have been alleged to be working to frustrate the chances of candidates who emerged from the party’s National Assembly primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Oodua Progressive Youths League (OPYL), a South-West support group for the APC, said the governors whose preferred aspirants lost the National Assembly tickets allegedly directed their candidates to seek tickets from other political parties and contest against APC candidates in the 2027 elections.

In a statement signed by its General Secretary, Wale Abdulwaheed, the group further alleged that the governors had reached an understanding with some opposition parties on the selection of polling agents for the elections.

According to the group, the affected governors had directed their sponsored candidates on the platforms of opposition parties to nominate their loyalists, who are still members of the APC, as agents for the ruling party.

The names, OPYL alleged, would subsequently be submitted to the APC National Secretariat in Abuja as the party’s agents in their respective states.

According to the group, a governor in North-Central and Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State have particularly come under scrutiny over the alleged development.

In Ondo State, however, the allegation has assumed another dimension, with party sources claiming that the governor’s strained relationship with some APC candidates could affect the party’s campaign structure and election-day operations.

Meanwhile, Aiyedatiwa has denied directing any aspirant or candidate to contest against APC candidates on the platform of another political party.

While dismissing allegations that he was involved in anti-party activities, the governor described his accusers as “naysayers, blackmailers, and slanderers.”

He said, “I have zero tolerance for anti-party activities. I have never engaged in anti-party activities in my life.”

However, a source within the party in the state, while confirming the alleged involvement of the governor’s anti-party, accused him of being “disingenuous,” alleging that his activities and those of his supporters ahead of the 2027 elections pointed to anti-party moves.

The source particularly alleged that the governor appointed about 1,000 senior special assistants and special assistants to strengthen his political structure for an alleged anti-party campaign under the Rainbow Coalition.

“It is no longer a hidden agenda in Ondo State. Even a newborn baby is aware of who is sponsoring the Rainbow Coalition in the state,” the source alleged.

The source further claimed that despite Aiyedatiwa’s public denial, the governor was involved in the political ambitions of Matthew Oyerinmade, who is now the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Ondo South Senatorial District, and Idowu Mafimisebi, who is contesting the Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency seat on the PDP platform.

“We are also aware that it was the governor who directed Tajudeen Akinfisoye, popularly known as Small Alhaji, who lost the APC ticket, to move to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) platform to contest the Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency seat against the APC candidate, Festus Akingbaso,” the source alleged.

The source also raised concerns over the governor’s alleged relationship with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate for the Ondo Central Senatorial District, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, who is an ally of the ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

“Is there a way that the governor will direct his supporters to mobilize votes for Akinyelure against the party’s candidate, Senator Niyi Adegbonmire, SAN, and such moves will not affect the votes for President Bola Tinubu and thereafter give huge votes to Atiku in Ondo Central?”

The source also alleged that candidates of opposition parties, including Oyerinmade, Mafimisebi, Akinfisoye, Akinyelure, and the Ondo North Senatorial candidate of the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA), Alex Ajipe, had been directed to nominate their loyalists who remained APC members as agents.

“Also, Hon. Abiola Makinde, who represents the Ondo West/Ondo East Federal Constituency and is currently in court challenging the victory of Dr. Michael Ajilo, who defeated him in the party’s primary, has been directed to submit the names of party agents for his federal constituency.

“The intention is to submit these names to the APC National Secretariat in Abuja as the party agents for APC in Ondo State.

“You know the power party agents possess on election day. This is part of the plot to ensure these APC National Assembly candidates fail,” the source alleged.

Meanwhile, a source within the Presidency disclosed that President Bola Tinubu was already aware of alleged moves by some aggrieved APC governors to undermine the party in their respective states.

The source said Tinubu, who is currently on a three-week vacation, had spoken with the Imo State Governor and Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodinma, over the alleged involvement of some governors in anti-party activities.

According to the source, the president expressed concern that such activities could weaken the APC’s chances in the affected states ahead of the 2027 elections.

The conversation was said to have preceded an emergency meeting of the APC Governors’ Forum held in Abuja on Monday.

At the meeting, attended by almost all the APC governors, the governors resolved not to participate in, support, or endorse any alliance or political arrangement capable of undermining Tinubu’s re-election, weakening the APC, or adversely affecting the fortunes of any candidate of the party.

Reading the communiqué after the meeting, Uzodinma said the governors would not support any arrangement capable of creating “confusion, divided loyalty, or competing interests” within the party.

The governors also resolved to work collectively to strengthen the party and ensure that APC candidates receive the support required to prosecute the 2027 elections. (Guardian)