Ondo APC Elders Ask Members to Accept Candidates List

The elders of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State have spoken out against recent protests. Some party members were unhappy with the list of candidates released by the party. The elders are urging everyone to accept the party’s decision on this issue.

On Monday, some women from the ruling APC in Ondo State protested in Akure, the state capital. They were upset about the candidates' list released by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

The protesters claimed that the names on the list did not reflect the winners from last month’s House of Representatives primary election.

Demola Ijabiyi, the Chairman of the APC Elders Forum in Ondo State, addressed reporters in Akure on Wednesday. He expressed support for the decision made by the party’s national secretariat regarding the candidates list.

Ijabiyi stated that the NWC’s decision shows that the APC is a party that follows its constitution, established rules, and transparent processes. He emphasized that personal preferences or regional interests should not dictate party decisions.

He also mentioned that the primaries held in Ondo State last month were not fair. He described them as a mere imposition and said there should be no protests against the NWC’s candidates list.

Ijabiyi said, “We have consistently cautioned against every form of candidate imposition within our party in Ondo State. We maintained, at every opportunity, that the wishes of party members, the integrity of the nomination process, and the supremacy of the party must never be sacrificed on the altar of personal ambition or political expediency.

“We understand the disappointment and frustration of those members and their supporters whose hopes were built on primary election results that were neither authentic nor sustainable. However, they owe it to themselves to accept the decision of our national leadership with dignity and without further agitation. No amount of public protest can convert defeat into victory where no legitimate mandate was won in the first place.

“The decisions of the party’s leadership are binding on all members, and the supremacy of the party must prevail over personal ambition or sectional interests. Continued protests and acts of defiance can only amount to indiscipline and risk placing those involved at variance with the party’s core values and constitutional principles. We therefore call on all concerned to respect the party’s decision, submit to its authority, and channel their energies towards strengthening the APC and ensuring its continued success.

“This development sends a clear message that the APC remains the final authority on party nominations and that no individual, regardless of position, is greater than the party.”

Ijabiyi added that the group is dedicated to mobilizing support across Ondo State for the reelection of President Bola Tinubu and other APC candidates in the upcoming 2027 general election.

He also mentioned that the group will keep promoting harmony among party members and uphold the democratic principles that the APC was founded on.

“We therefore call on all leaders, elected officials, aspirants, and stakeholders to close ranks, eschew divisive politics, and work together in the overall interest of our party and the people of Ondo State,” he urged.