The political battle for the 2027 general election took another dramatic turn on Friday as the House of Representatives candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), popularly dubbed the “‘Lucky’ APC candidates,” staged a triumphant return to Ondo State after the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) affirmed their nominations.
The candidates arrived aboard a chartered Overland Airways flight from Abuja, which landed at the Akure Airport to a rousing reception by hundreds of party faithful, supporters and political associates who turned the airport into a carnival ground.
Among those on the flight were Hon. Donald Ojogo, candidate for Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency; Hon. Olajide Akintomide, Ondo East/Ondo West Federal Constituency; Hon. Jimi Odimayo, Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency; Hon. Prince Adefiranye, Odigbo/Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo Federal Constituency; Hon. Ifeoluwa Ehindero, Akoko North East/Akoko North West Federal Constituency; Hon. Timehin Adelegbe, Owo/Ose Federal Constituency; and Hon. Festus Akingbaso, Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency, all of whom received a heroic welcome from jubilant supporters on arrival.
Supporters dressed in customised APC T-shirts and face caps waved banners, sang solidarity songs and danced as the candidates disembarked from the aircraft amid loud cheers, celebrating what many described as a hard-fought political victory after weeks of uncertainty surrounding the party’s controversial House of Representatives primaries.
The candidates, who secured the party’s tickets in one of the most contentious APC primary elections in Ondo State, are widely regarded within political circles as the major beneficiaries of the intervention of the APC National Working Committee after weeks of uncertainty over the outcome of the primaries.
Their emergence came against the backdrop of a fierce internal power struggle, with many party stakeholders believing that several of the eventual candidates were not the preferred choices of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and leaders of his political tendency. Their confirmation by the National Working Committee has since reshaped the political equation within the Ondo APC.
The outcome has also fuelled widespread political speculation over the influence of key national party figures, particularly the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, although the APC has not officially attributed the NWC’s decisions to any individual.
Addressing journalists shortly after the reception, the APC candidate for Ondo East/Ondo West Federal Constituency, Hon. Olajide Akintomide, urged party members to put the primary election behind them and rally behind all APC candidates.
“There is no need for agitation. The National Working Committee has spoken. Party supremacy must prevail. Members should ignore contrary narratives and work together for the success of the APC in 2027,” he said.
Also speaking, Hon. Jimi Odimayo, candidate for Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency, appealed to aggrieved members to embrace reconciliation, warning that internal division could undermine the party’s electoral fortunes.
He thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC National Working Committee and the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for their roles during the primary process while urging members to unite behind all APC candidates.
Director-General of the Asiwaju Mandate Group (AMG), Olumuyiwa Asagunla, said the reception was organised to appreciate President Tinubu and the APC National Working Committee for what he described as their support for the party in Ondo State.
He said the group would intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections while calling on party members to place the APC above personal interests and embrace reconciliation.
Despite Friday’s show of unity, political observers believe the battle for the soul of the Ondo APC is far from over. While the NWC’s decision appears to have settled the contest over candidacies, it has also exposed deep political divisions within the ruling party ahead of what promises to be a fiercely contested 2027 general election.
The colourful airport reception marked the first public appearance of the victorious House of Representatives candidates as a group since their nominations were affirmed by the APC National Working Committee, with the seven federal constituency flag bearers projecting a united front and signalling their readiness to lead the party into the 2027 general election despite the controversy that trailed the primary process.
