Aiyedatiwa Denies Backing PDP Rival, Reaffirms Support for APC Candidate

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has dismissed reports that he has withdrawn his support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Ondo South Senatorial District, Dr Isaacs Kekemeke, in favour of his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Matthew Oyerinmade.

The clarification comes amid growing political tension in the state ahead of the 2027 elections, following speculation that the governor had shifted his allegiance to the opposition candidate.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Engagement, Steve Otaloro, the governor described the reports as unfounded and urged APC supporters and members of the public to disregard them.

Otaloro said Aiyedatiwa remained a committed member and leader of the APC in Ondo State, stressing that his loyalty to the party had remained consistent from the days of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which later evolved into the APC.

‘Governor Has Not Endorsed Any Opposition Candidate’

According to the statement, Aiyedatiwa has not authorised anyone to speak on his behalf in support of any opposition candidate.

Otaloro said the rumour was a deliberate attempt by political actors to create division between the governor and the APC’s senatorial candidate.

“Governor Aiyedatiwa is a committed member and leader of the APC in Ondo State. He has consistently demonstrated his loyalty to the progressive political family,” the statement said.

The governor’s aide added that Aiyedatiwa’s position as leader of the APC in the state made it inconsistent for him to support a candidate running against the party’s platform.

He maintained that the governor remained committed to supporting APC candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.

Kekemeke Backs Governor

The statement also referenced comments attributed to Kekemeke, who reportedly dismissed claims of a disagreement between him and the governor.

According to Otaloro, the APC candidate had affirmed that Aiyedatiwa supported his emergence as the party’s candidate and remained his political benefactor and leader in Ondo State.

The governor’s aide therefore urged APC members and residents of Ondo State to disregard reports of an alleged change in Aiyedatiwa’s political allegiance.

He described the reports as an attempt to cause unnecessary friction between the governor and the APC’s candidate for the Ondo South senatorial contest.

Aiyedatiwa, who became governor of Ondo State following the death of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and subsequently won the 2024 governorship election, is expected to play a significant role in shaping the APC’s political fortunes in the state ahead of the 2027 elections.