For six years, supporters of late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu held sway in the political firmament of Ondo State. However, his supporters are in political limbo following his death in December 2023, BABATOPE OKEOWO reports on their fate
Loyalists of late former Governor Rrotimi Akeredolu alongside several ex-cabinet members, are reportedly weighing the option of leaving the All Progressives Congress (APC) over perceived marginalisation of former occupiers of various offices in Ondo State, a move many political watchers see as a major crack within the ruling party. Several leaders of the APC warned that the chips may soon be down if urgent reconciliation efforts are not initiated, with deepening divisions threatening the cohesion of the ruling party in the state.
At the centre of the crisis is alleged marginalisation of the Akeredolu political family, comprising former cabinet members, party executives, and grassroots leaders who played pivotal roles during his administration. Several members within Akeredolu’s bloc accused the national leadership of the APC of working in tandem with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to erode their influence within the party structure. A senior former aide of the late governor said:
“They have systematically edged us out from ward to state levels. These are people who built the party over the last eight years, yet they are now being pushed aside.” The aggrieved group is said to be holding strategic meetings to reassert its relevance, insisting it remains the backbone of the party’s grassroots machinery.
Tensions escalated during the recent party congress, which members of the bloc described as violent and exclusionary. A source within the ranks said: “More than 90 per cent of our members across the local governments were attacked and injured. The former chairman, Ade Adetimehin, was treated like a common criminal, dragged on the ground and beaten by thugs.” Despite pursuing legal redress, including a court injunction to halt the congress, the group claimed the process proceeded regardless, producing new executives across the state’s 203 wards.
A party chieftain noted: “The national secretariat simply ignored us. Today, none of Akeredolu’s cabinet members or even sitting lawmakers have a single executive member at the ward level.” The controversy has been further fueled by the emergence of new party leaders, many of whom are alleged to be recent entrants into the APC or current appointees of the state government. Observers have also raised concerns over dual roles held by some officials.
For instance, the state chairman, Kolawole Babatunde, is reportedly still serving as Special Adviser on Political and Legislative Matters to the governor, while other party executives are said to hold concurrent government appointments. An insider said: “Individuals who joined the APC from the PDP less than a year ago are now occupying key party positions, while founding members have been completely sidelined.”
Beyond political grievances, the crisis has taken a human toll. Several party members reportedly sustained injuries during the congress violence and are still receiving treatment within and outside Nigeria. A former council chairman, Dayo Akinsunroju, a close associate of Wale Akinterinwa, Akeredolu’s Commissioner for Finance, is currently receiving treatment abroad after sustaining serious head injuries during an attack at an APC stakeholders’ meeting held a day before the ward congress.
Similarly, a former lawmaker, Hon. Success Torkujoh, is said to be receiving care in Lagos. In another incident, Raphael Adetimehin, younger brother of the former APC chairman, was reportedly beaten, macheted, and had his car set ablaze by suspected political thugs after being mistaken for his elder brother. He is currently receiving treatment in a medical facility in Ado-Ekiti.
In the last presidential election, Ondo delivered one of the highest vote margins in the South West under Akeredolu’s leadership. Today, nearly all those who made that victory possible have been sidelined
Prominent members of the Akeredolu’s political family, including Saka Ogunleye, a former cabinet member and Director General of the Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation (LACO), were also reportedly attacked, with vehicles vandalised and properties damaged.
The crisis took a new turn following a petition reportedly filed by the State Commissioner for Finance, Mrs. Isaac Omowumi, a close ally of Governor Aiyedatiwa, against some stakeholders in Owo, the hometown of the late Akeredolu. This prompted invitations from the Office of the Inspector General of Police to several prominent figures, including Chief Gbenga Ale, former Chief of Staff; Barr. Kola Olawoye, former Commissioner for Justice; Hon. Femi Idris, chairman of the Local Government Service Commission and Hon. Adegoroye, among others.
Tensions escalated further during a stakeholders’ meeting in Owo, where allies of the late governor were again said to have come under attack. “Across all 18 local government areas and 203 wards, violence was unleashed on party members just to secure control,” a source alleged. Amid the deepening crisis, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, is said to have intervened, reaching out to key figures within the aggrieved camp, including former chairman Adetimehin.
Sources confirmed that the group has withdrawn its court case in the interest of peace and party unity ahead of future electoral contests, particularly in support of President Bola Tinubu. However, they cautioned that the withdrawal should not be misconstrued as a resolution of the crisis.
A source said: “If urgent and sincere reconciliation is not pursued, especially addressing those who lost loved ones or remain hospitalised, the crisis will only deepen.” Analysts within the party fear the rift could have far-reaching consequences for the APC’s electoral fortunes in Ondo State.
Party insiders argued that the current administration’s performance, coupled with what they describe as the alienation of key stakeholders, may weaken grassroots support. A chieftain of the party said “In the last presidential election, Ondo delivered one of the highest vote margins in the SouthWest under Akeredolu’s leadership. Today, nearly all those who made that victory possible have been sidelined.”
There are also growing concerns over governance, including allegations of stalled projects initiated by the late governor, declining local government performance, and rising insecurity. A former Senior Special Assistant to Akeredolu said: “The local councils are barely functioning. Development has slowed and insecurity is increasing. Combined with this internal crisis, the party is taking a serious risk.”
Adding to the tension are allegations that moves may be underway to prevent Akeredolu-aligned lawmakers from returning in future elections, a development that, if true, could further widen the divide. For now, the APC in Ondo stands at a critical crossroads. Without swift reconciliation and inclusive leadership, the fractures within the party may not only persist but also deepen, potentially reshaping the state’s political landscape in the years ahead.
