By George Omagbemi Sylvester
A fresh political storm is gathering within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, as rival blocs aligned with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo jostle for control of the party structure ahead of the state congresses. What was once dismissed publicly as a “rumoured rift” has now crystallised into a full-blown contest for the soul of the ruling party in the state.
The immediate trigger is the approaching APC ward and local government congresses, internal exercises that determine who controls the party machinery at the grassroots level. These structures are critical, not only for day-to-day party administration but also for future primary elections and the distribution of political influence.
Reports from party insiders indicate that tension has escalated over allegations of attempts to dominate the congress process. Some party leaders have even threatened a boycott, citing fears of a “hijacked” exercise, while warnings of a possible parallel congress have surfaced.
The emerging crisis pits two powerful figures against each other. On one side is Governor Aiyedatiwa, who secured victory in the November 2024 governorship election and assumed a full term in February 2025. As the sitting governor, he is widely regarded within the APC as the leader of the party in the state.
On the other side is Tunji-Ojo, the influential Interior Minister and former member of the House of Representatives, who commands a strong grassroots network, particularly in the Akoko axis, with the recent extension of his political family across Ondo South and Ondo North Senatorial Districts. His leadership style, kindness, and stellar performance as the star figure in President Bola Tinubu’s administration have given him considerable leverage and increasing popularity within the party’s internal dynamics.
The rivalry did not begin with the current congress cycle. For months, party elders and stakeholder groups have intervened to quell what they described as growing tension between the two camps. Earlier reconciliation efforts were undertaken by the Ondo Mandate Elders Forum, which called for unity and restraint as the political temperature rose.
Despite those interventions, the contest for influence has continued, with different support groups and party figures aligning behind either the governor or the minister. Analysts say the struggle is fundamentally about control of the party structure ahead of future elections, particularly the 2027 general polls.
Political scientists have long noted that control of party machinery in Nigeria is often more decisive than electoral popularity. As scholar Richard Joseph famously observed, “In many African political systems, the struggle for party control is the struggle for power itself.” His observation appears to resonate strongly in the unfolding Ondo scenario.
Within the APC, however, officials have tried to downplay the scale of the crisis. Party spokesmen and pro-government groups have repeatedly dismissed reports of a rift, insisting there is no factionalisation. Yet the threats of boycott and the spectre of parallel congresses suggest that the situation on the ground is more complex than official statements imply.
Sources within the party say the dispute revolves around who controls delegate selection and local executives—positions that will ultimately determine the direction of the APC in the state. Such contests are common in Nigerian politics, where party structures are often fiercely contested due to their strategic importance.
The governor’s camp is said to have purchased nomination forms and started mobilising loyalists to secure key positions across wards and local governments, while supporters of the minister insist on what they call a fair and transparent process. It was learned that Tunji-Ojo’s camp is set for a showdown of “do me and I do you,” with reports suggesting that the minister will not leave any stone unturned to also purchase nomination forms if a free and fair exercise is not allowed—a scenario reminiscent of similar events that played out in Zamfara State at one time.
The fear among neutral stakeholders is that if neither side yields, the party could fracture into rival factions, weakening its cohesion ahead of future electoral contests.
Political economist Claude Ake once warned that when internal party democracy is undermined, “political competition shifts from ideas to control of structures.” That warning appears particularly relevant in Ondo, where the present crisis is less about ideology and more about organisational dominance.
For now, the outcome remains uncertain. The APC leadership at the national level is expected to intervene if the crisis escalates, especially given the party’s strategic interest in maintaining control of the state. Observers note that internal fractures, if not quickly resolved, could embolden opposition parties and destabilise the ruling party’s electoral prospects.
What is clear is that the Ondo APC congress is no longer a routine party exercise. It has become a defining battle over authority, influence, and the future direction of the party in the state. Whether the rival camps can reach a political truce, or whether the crisis will deepen into a full-scale factional split, may determine not just the outcome of the congress but the trajectory of Ondo politics in the years ahead.
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