For the first time in the political history of Ondo State, the ruling All Progressives Congress ( APC ) appears poised to secure a federal legislative seat completely uncontested, as major opposition parties systematically withdraw from the upcoming June 20 Ondo South senatorial bye-election.
An exclusive investigation by Starnews NG reveals a total collapse of preparation, enthusiasm, and logistical planning among the state’s primary opposition blocs. With the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) closing its candidate nomination portal on June 2, 2026, the APC’s flagbearer, Prof. Dayo Faduyile, OON, is virtually standing alone on the battlefield.
The most compelling evidence of the opposition’s surrender is the absolute silence surrounding internal primaries. According to INEC’s strict statutory timetable, political parties must conclude their internal primaries and upload candidate credentials before the June 2 deadline. While the APC successfully organised its primaries over the weekend and formally submitted its report, none of the major opposition parties have even announced a date for their primary elections. With the deadline less than a week away, it is mathematically and logistically impossible to organise, execute, and ratify democratic primaries in time.
Why the Opposition is Walking Away: Insights from Starnews NG Interviews
In a series of exclusive telephone interviews, Starnews NG spoke directly with top leaders of the state’s three main opposition parties: the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Efforts to reach the Labour Party leadership were unsuccessful as of press time. The responses across the board were uniform: they are deliberately boycotting the isolated poll to conserve their strength for the 2027 general elections.
However, their reasons run much deeper than mere financial conservation. Opposition leaders informed Starnews NG that isolated bye-elections are fundamentally flawed because they allow the ruling party to concentrate its resources excessively. Unlike a general election, where state power is diluted across 36 states, an isolated election enables the APC to deploy its entire federal apparatus, state machinery, and security forces into a single senatorial district, making a fair contest virtually impossible.
The party leaders expressed a profound lack of confidence in the electoral umpire. Multiple opposition executives bluntly described INEC as functioning like “a department of the presidency.” They stated they refuse to legitimise an electoral process where they believe the outcome is already predetermined.
A Dangerous Precedent for Nigeria’s Democracy
While conserving resources for 2027 is a pragmatic calculation, this coordinated retreat sets a dangerous and unprecedented example for Ondo State. For a healthy, thriving democracy to exist, the electorate must have a choice. The complete abdication of responsibility by the PDP, ADC, and NDC robs the people of Ondo South of their constitutional right to a competitive election. If the opposition’s primary grievance is that a singular APC is too formidable to defeat in an isolated poll, the logical solution is unity, not surrender.
There is no justifiable reason why these opposition structures could not unite, pool their resources, and present a single, formidable consensus candidate to challenge the ruling party. By failing to build a united front and neglecting to conduct primaries, the opposition is effectively handing Prof. Dayo Faduyile a free pass to the National Assembly. This historic blunder leaves Ondo’s democratic landscape resembling less a multi-party republic and more a one-party state.
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