Aiyedatiwa Says APC Candidates for 2027 Will Emerge Through Merit, Loyalty and Winnability

Ondo State Governor, Dr Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has declared that candidates of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the 2027 general elections in the state will be selected based on merit, loyalty and winnability. He also warned aspirants against desperation and do-or-die politics within the party. 

The governor made the remarks on Friday at the APC Central Senatorial District stakeholders’ meeting held at the Akure Township Hall, where he emphasised unity, discipline and adherence to party supremacy. He said political activities in the state had already gathered momentum and explained that the process would move from expression of interest and nomination forms to screening, appeals where necessary, and then either direct primaries or consensus arrangements, depending on the decision of the party. 

Aiyedatiwa said the party leadership was already engaging aspirants at different levels to encourage consensus building, stressing that only one candidate would eventually emerge for each elective office. He urged aspirants to conduct honest self-assessment, remain calm and accept party decisions with maturity. 

The governor also warned against defection by aggrieved aspirants, insisting that members who fail to secure party tickets should remain loyal to the APC. Recalling his own political experience, he said he contested for the Senate in 2018 and lost, but stayed in the party until another opportunity came. 

He further stated that the APC in Ondo State is targeting one million votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election. According to him, the party remains focused on retaining power at both the state and national levels, while he cited ongoing federal projects and intervention programmes as evidence of governance delivery. 

In his remarks, APC State Chairman, Babatunde Kolawole, reaffirmed party supremacy and described Governor Aiyedatiwa as the leader of the party in Ondo State. He urged aspirants and members to accept party outcomes with political maturity and patience.