The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State is facing one of its biggest internal crises in recent years following the National Working Committee’s (NWC) decision to overturn the outcomes of several National Assembly primary elections, a development that has ignited protests, deepened divisions and raised fears of another round of anti-party activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
What began as grievances over the conduct of the House of Representatives primaries has now escalated into open resistance against the party’s national leadership after the NWC replaced eight National Assembly candidates through its appeal process.
The latest twist provoked hundreds of APC women and youths to stage a protest in Akure on Monday, rejecting what they described as a distortion of the mandate freely given by party members during the primary elections.
Led by the Ondo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Bosede (Seun) Osamaye, the protesters marched through major streets of Akure, chanting solidarity songs and displaying placards demanding that the party restore what they called the “authentic winners” of the primaries.
The demonstrators insisted that the candidates announced by the APC National Secretariat did not reflect the results produced at the ward, local government and constituency levels, alleging that the will of party members had been overturned through the appeal process.
It was also alleged that the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) tampered with the outcome of the State House of Assembly primary elections by reducing the number of candidates reportedly anointed and selected by the governor from 26 to 11 in the final list released by the party.
The protest temporarily disrupted traffic and underscored the growing anger within the ruling party, with many supporters warning that failure to reverse the decision could further polarise the APC in the state.
Political observers believe the crisis has exposed deep cracks within the party and may become one of the biggest threats to the APC’s electoral fortunes in Ondo if reconciliation efforts fail.
Beyond the immediate protests, there are growing concerns that aggrieved aspirants and their supporters may become reluctant to mobilise for the party during the general election, while others fear some could quietly work against APC candidates at the polls.
The unfolding crisis has also revived memories of the political turmoil that engulfed the Ondo APC during the administration of the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.
Ahead of the 2019 general elections, the party was sharply divided by internal disagreements, with allegations that some APC leaders backed candidates of the Action Alliance (AA) instead of the party’s officially recognised candidates. The crisis fuelled accusations of anti-party activities, weakened party cohesion and left lasting political scars within the APC.
Many party faithful now fear that the current National Assembly ticket dispute could reopen old wounds if the grievances of aggrieved members are not urgently addressed.
Several stakeholders have reportedly called on the APC National Working Committee to engage all interested parties in dialogue before the crisis spirals beyond control.
Analysts warn that unresolved disputes over candidate selection have historically weakened political parties more than opposition attacks, especially in states where internal divisions become public.
With the 2027 elections drawing closer, the Ondo APC now faces a defining moment. Whether the party succeeds in reconciling aggrieved members or slips into another cycle of internal conflict could determine not only its unity but also its electoral strength in one of the South-West’s key political battlegrounds.
