The relative calm that followed the conclusion of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary elections in Ondo State has been shattered.
A fresh internal crisis has erupted within the ruling party as aggrieved aspirants, widely believed to be loyalists of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, have initiated a legal battle against the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The legal challenge targets the final list of candidates submitted by the NWC to INEC for the 2027 general elections.
The aggrieved aspirants have engaged the legal services of prominent Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Remi Olatubora, to contest the party’s decision to overturn the results of the National Assembly and State House of Assembly primaries originally conducted at the state level.
A Precedent in the Making
This development follows closely on the heels of a similar judicial intervention in Benue State. Just 48 hours prior, a Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice I. E. Ekwo, directed the APC and INEC to maintain the status quo in a dispute arising from the Benue State primaries (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1429/2026).
In Ondo, the aggrieved loyalists are seeking interim orders to restrain the APC from substituting candidates they claim were validly nominated during the June 29, 2026, internal elections, pending the determination of the substantive suit.
Inside sources close to the Alagbaka Government House claim that Governor Aiyedatiwa explicitly directed the affected aspirants to seek judicial redress after the party’s highest decision-making organ dropped his preferred choices.
The Paradox of Party Supremacy
The brewing legal storm highlights a growing friction within the APC regarding the doctrine of “party supremacy.” Ironically, political analysts point out that Governor Aiyedatiwa himself was a major beneficiary of this doctrine.
In April 2024, his own gubernatorial primary election, chaired by Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo, was heavily criticized by rival aspirants for widespread irregularities.
Despite fierce protests and calls for annulment, the NWC stood behind Aiyedatiwa, invoking party supremacy to ratify his ticket.
Now, the tables have turned.
While Nigerian political tradition informally positions sitting governors as the automatic leaders and financial backbones of their state party structures, this dominance is not explicitly absolute in the APC constitution.
The NWC retains the constitutional right to review, check, and overrule state-level decisions, especially where procedural breaches occur.
According to Article 2 of the APC Constitution, the supremacy of the party’s constitution and its national directives binds all members and organs, subject only to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Furthermore, Article 21 empowers the party to enforce strict discipline and compliance with national decisions.
The BTO Factor and Shifting Alliances
Insiders suggest the current friction in Ondo is a direct fallout of a high-stakes power play between Governor Aiyedatiwa and the Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo (popularly known as BTO).
The NWC’s final list heavily favors candidates aligned with the Minister, dealing a severe blow to the Governor’s camp. Rumors are already swirling that Tunji-Ojo is quietly consolidating his hold on the state structure ahead of the 2028 gubernatorial contest.
Despite the Governor’s claims to absolute leadership, many party faithful now view the Minister as the de facto custodian of the Ondo APC structure due to his extensive political patronage and strategic party-building efforts.
The NWC’s adjusted list has confirmed tickets for several key stakeholders aligned with the Minister’s camp, including:
Ondo Central Senatorial District: Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire (SAN)
Ondo North Senatorial District: Senator Olajide Ipinsagba
Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency: Hon. Donald Ojogo
Ondo East/Ondo West Federal Constituency: Hon. Olajide Akintomide
Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency: Hon. Jimi Odimayo
Odigbo/Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo Federal Constituency: Hon. Prince Adefiranye
Akoko North East/Akoko North West Federal Constituency: Hon. Ifeoluwa Ehindero
Owo/Ose Federal Constituency: Hon. Timehin Adelegbe
Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency: Hon. Festus Akingbaso
In addition to the federal seats, five State House of Assembly tickets originally controlled by the Governor’s camp were also overturned by the NWC.
A Political Miscalculation?
While over 90% of APC governors nationwide successfully managed internal friction during the 2026 primaries through consensus, Ondo and Benue stand out as volatile exceptions.
In Benue, Governor Hyacinth Alia remains locked in a bitter feud with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, resulting in a similar bypass of the governor’s list by the NWC.
In Ondo, veteran politicians blame Aiyedatiwa’s current isolation on flawed diplomacy. A prominent party chieftain in the state, speaking on the condition of anonymity, remarked:
”One tree does not make a forest. It is politically reckless for a sitting governor to alienate nearly all national assembly members and the very stakeholders who stood by him during his initial political struggles. The current situation is a time bomb that was bound to explode.”
Closed associates also accused him of being tight-fisted.
As the law firm of Remi Olatubora prepares its arguments, party insiders warn that a prolonged legal battle could severely disrupt the APC’s preparations for the 2027 general elections.
If the court grants the prayers of Aiyedatiwa’s loyalists, it could force a chaotic rerun of primaries or plunge the state chapter into total administrative paralysis.
