Politics
Ondo Guber Race: Hold Makinde responsible if poll is marred – Oyo APC group says
As electorate in Ondo state prepare to cast their ballots this Saturday in the scheduled gubernatorial poll in the state, a media group within the All Progressives Congress in Oyo state,Communication and Strategy Frontier (CSF), on Tuesday alerted the public that Governor Seyi Makinde should be held responsible for any development which might mar the smooth conduct of the exercise stating that he (Makinde) appeared too desperate to emerge a regional champion of his party.
The Peoples Democratic Party at the national level had appointed Gov. Makinde as the Chairman, Campaign Committee for its candidate in the said election, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, and this, according to Oyo APC, was to enable the PDP prosecute its Ondo project with the financial resources of the Pacesetter state.
In a statement issued in Ibadan and made available to the press by its Director-General, Mr. Wale Olanrewaju, and Director of Organization, Alhaji Olawale Sadare, Oyo APC-CSF faulted the PDP and Gov. Makinde over their alleged desperate moves to truncate the desire of the people of Ondo state to have a peaceful and hitch-free election this Saturday stating that he (Makinde) lacked all it takes to lead the PDP to any electoral victory.
“Both as the controversial gubernatorial candidate of the Oyo PDP in 2019 and the governor of Oyo state since May 29, 2019, Engr. Seyi Makinde has never convinced political pundits and critical stakeholders that he has any outstanding credentials to win elections for himself or any other person as he is lacking in capacity to either sell party manifesto or convince voters to his side. Also, Gov. Makinde lacks evidence of good governance with which he could tell Ondo people that his party candidate would replicate if elected.
“In the Sunshine state today, all the PDP governor in Oyo state does is to finance dirty deals with some mushroom parties and their clownish candidates who are being bought over to support the same Mr. Jegede who was roundly defeated by Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) in 2016. We also have it on good authority that Gov. Makinde is spearheading the plot to flood polling booths across Ondo state with heavy sums of money on Saturday as it was done in Edo last month.
“Now that the Agodi Government House has literally moved to Ondo state for the Saturday poll, one may want to ask why the Oyo state governor deems it necessary to abandon governance in his own state for an electoral contest in another state but the simple answer to this is obtainable from the fallout of the ongoing altercation between Gov. Makinde and some powerful PDP south west leaders who he seeks to dislodge with a view to positioning himself as the new leaders ahead of the 2023 general elections.
“Only yesterday, a close aide of Gov. Makinde fired another salvo to the former Governor of Ekiti state, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, in apparent continuation of the supremacy battle over who leads the PDP in the South West. Most Nigerians who were fooled by the pretentious mien of Makinde in the build-up to the election that produced him as governor and those who could not have the detailed account of his inglorious role in the last gubernatorial election in Kogi state could now see him in his true colour while he engages more gladiators in needless battle of attrition.
“We are now using this opportunity to appeal to Gov. Makinde to have a rethink on his clandestine plan to use the Ondo election to win a perceived test of confidence by trying to sponsor various activities capable of compromising INEC’s quest to deliver a free, fair and acceptable election this Saturday. We know how the same PDP candidate (Jegede) prosecuted his campaign in 2016 with minimum patronage of political thugs and we are now seeing the turn of event when Gov. Makinde is being made to influence things within the PDP and it is on this note that we are putting the whole world on notice that the governor of Oyo state should be held responsible for any security breach in Ondo before, during and after the Saturday election.” The Group submitted.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has called on Governor Seyi Makinde to resign immediately, alleging that his recent remarks on state security exposed incompetence and an inability to lead.
Governor Makinde, speaking during his acceptance speech as the Presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Ibadan on Saturday, lamented that he could do little to rescue abducted school children and residents in Oriire Local Government Area due to all security structures being under federal control.
Reacting, APC State Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, described the governor’s comments as “the height of cluelessness, insincerity, and criminal ineptitude,” warning that such disclosures reflect a dangerous trend among parochial leaders.
Sadare said, “Engr. Seyi Makinde could not find any fault in the nation’s Constitution, yet he swore twice to protect lives and properties of Oyo people. He has long enjoyed the powers of his office, controlling resources and people without challenge, but now faces a serious test, exposing incompetence, cluelessness, and ego.”
He added, “Instead of addressing security challenges, Makinde is exploiting the situation to push a mirage he calls a presidential ambition in 2027. His insensitive comments once again reveal hypocrisy. It is time he quit the office of the governor, having admitted he lacks the capacity to secure the state.”
The APC also recalled that previous governors, including Alhaji Lam Adesina, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, and the late Sen. Abiola Ajimobi, operated under the same constitutional provisions without similar security failures. Sadare particularly praised Ajimobi for establishing a Security Trust Fund to ensure funding and stakeholder involvement in security, in contrast to the current administration.
“Makinde’s presidential ambition is dead on arrival. Our concern is the continued loss, deprivation, and mismanagement the people of Oyo may suffer in the remaining year of his tenure. The state deserves a team player, a sincere and humble governor — qualities Makinde has failed to demonstrate in seven years. He should apologise and step down,” Sadare concluded.
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Saturday emerged as the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) for the 2027 general election following the conclusion of the party’s presidential nomination process.
Makinde emerged through consensus and affirmation by party delegates during the exercise, in what party leaders described as a demonstration of unity and confidence in his leadership ahead of the next general elections.
The governor was presented with his Certificate of Return by the National Chairman of the APM, Alhaji Yusuf Dantali, during a ceremony held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, amid cheers from party faithful, delegates and supporters drawn from different parts of the country.
Speaking during the presentation, Dantali said Makinde possesses the leadership qualities, administrative experience and vision required to steer the country towards sustainable growth and national development.
He urged party members across the federation to close ranks and intensify grassroots mobilisation to ensure victory for the party in the 2027 presidential election.
The APM national chairman maintained that the party remained committed to presenting Nigerians with what he described as a credible alternative capable of addressing the country’s economic, security and governance challenges.
According to him, the emergence of Makinde as the party’s flag bearer marked the beginning of a new political movement aimed at restoring hope and strengthening democratic governance in the country.
In his acceptance speech, Governor Makinde expressed appreciation to the leadership of the party and delegates for the confidence reposed in him, pledging to work with stakeholders across political, ethnic and religious divides to advance the party’s vision for national transformation.
The governor assured party supporters of his commitment to inclusive leadership, promising to prioritise policies that would improve economic prosperity, strengthen institutions and enhance the welfare of Nigerians if elected.
Five key members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State have been appointed to the party’s campaign committee for the 2026 governorship re-election of Governor Abiodun Oyebanji in Ekiti State.
The Oyo APC leaders on the list include the party’s governorship candidate, Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, former Senate leader Teslim Folarin, Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, Zacch Adedeji, and Remi Oseni.
The list, signed by the party’s National Secretary, Sen. Ajibola Basiru, reflects the APC’s strategy of deploying experienced political figures with strong grassroots networks to ensure a successful re-election campaign in Ekiti.
“These appointments recognise their political experience and commitment to advancing the party’s agenda,” the source within the party said.
The APC committee is expected to coordinate campaign activities, voter engagement, and messaging, positioning the party for a strong showing in the 2026 governorship election.
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