Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, under the auspices of the PBAT Mandate Elders Forum, have warned against the imposition of candidates under the pretext of a consensus arrangement.
Speaking through the facilitator of the PBAT Mandate Forum, Hon Demola Ijabiyi, the group said the power given to the governors to choose candidates for the House of Assembly did not give them the liberty to pick candidates without consulting other members of the party.
During the treatment of not less than 3,000 elders for various sicknesses, including blood sugar, high blood pressure, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), Cholesterol, and kidney stones, Ijabiyi warned against what may lead to protest votes against the imposed candidates.
Ijabiyi, flanked by other leaders of the party, said, “We are not promoting candidates. We are not aware of the choice of consensus aspirants. We will follow whatever decision the party leadership adopts. As for concerns about post-primary crises, conflict management is part of party administration.
“The party has established processes, and a committee will handle such issues. If necessary, elders will step in to mediate and resolve disputes. However, we hope the process will be peaceful and well-conducted.”
On the issue of consensus candidates, Ijabiyi said the elders only heard reports that the governor may have made some selections, but said no official list has been released. As elders, he said they would remain neutral.
He said, “It is also worth noting that leadership at higher levels has given governors a significant role in candidate selection. A wise governor is expected to consult widely before making decisions, and we believe that will be the case here.”
Addressing the media on the 2027 elections, Ijabiyi said the elders declare their total and unwavering support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the sole APC candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
Giving reasons for the support for the reelection of President Tinubu, the facilitator said, “We are not supporting him and promoting his sole candidacy simply because he is the leader of our great party, the APC.
“No. We are supporting him because he has earned our support through extraordinary performance in office. Leadership is proven by results, and President Tinubu has delivered.
“President Tinubu has distinguished himself as a leader who takes difficult but necessary decisions and maintains steady leadership in the overall interest of the people of Nigeria. He does not shy away from tough choices when the future of our nation is at stake.
“In just over two years, he has arrested the nation’s drift towards the precipice and firmly set Nigeria on the path of sustainable development, economic recovery, and renewed global respect.
“For us in Ondo State, his impact is direct and historic. For the first time in our history, Ondo State has three ministers in the Federal Executive Council. All Federal highways leading into our State are now under active construction, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, which opens up our coastline.
“Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, we have witnessed: Student Loan Scheme giving thousands of Ondo youths access to higher education; Renewed Hope Housing Projects creating jobs and homes; Agricultural interventions boosting food security across our 18 LGAs; stabilisation of the foreign exchange market and bold reforms that are rebuilding investor confidence. Besides, our Local Governments now enjoy autonomy, thus deepening grassroots governance.”
