AKURE, ONDO STATE — Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has addressed the proposed 2027 “Rainbow Coalition”, reports of a political disagreement with the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and the military aircraft crash in Ilaje Local Government Area.
Starnews NG reports that the governor spoke during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Monday evening, October 5, 2026.
Rainbow Coalition and Wike
Aiyedatiwa said he had no personal disagreement with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, or the political strategy associated with the proposed “Rainbow Coalition” ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He, however, made it clear that the coalition would not alter the political direction of Ondo State, which he said remained firmly under the control of the All Progressives Congress.
“In my state, it is APC all the way,” the governor said. His comment reaffirmed his administration’s loyalty to the APC and suggested that Ondo State would remain aligned with the party, regardless of political alliances being formed at the national level.
No rift with Tunji-Ojo
The governor dismissed reports of a political rift or supremacy battle between him and the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
Aiyedatiwa said he had no personal issue with the minister and stressed that both men belonged to the same political family. “The young man you mentioned, the Honourable Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, I don’t have any issue with him. If you ask him, he will tell you the same,” he said.
He acknowledged that political actors could have different interests, but insisted that such differences had not created a division within the Ondo State APC. “Politics is laden with interest, so different people have different interests. We are members of the same family, members of the same APC,” Aiyedatiwa added.
The governor attributed reports of a “cold war” between him and Tunji-Ojo to social media speculation. He also noted that the minister’s responsibilities in Abuja could have contributed to public perceptions of distance between them.
Differing interests do not mean division
Aiyedatiwa explained that the existence of different political interests should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of a factional dispute.
He maintained that political actors could pursue different interests while remaining members of the same party and political family.
The governor’s position was that disagreements or differences in political calculations should be managed within the APC rather than presented as an open conflict between its leaders.
Governor speaks on military aircraft crash
Aiyedatiwa also addressed the military aircraft crash in the Igbokoda area of Ilaje Local Government Area.
Describing the incident as “so painful”, he said search-and-rescue efforts had been launched with the involvement of local residents, security agencies and emergency responders.
The governor said that, based on the preliminary information available to him at the time of the interview, no survivors had been recovered from the crash site.
He expressed sympathy over the tragedy and said relevant authorities were working to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Political direction ahead of 2027
The governor’s comments placed the APC at the centre of Ondo State’s political direction ahead of the 2027 elections. While he acknowledged the emergence of broader political alliances and the presence of different interests among political actors, Aiyedatiwa maintained that Ondo State remained firmly committed to the APC.
He also used the interview to reject speculation about divisions within the party’s leadership and to reassure supporters that political differences should not be mistaken for a breakdown in relationships, Starnews NG reports.
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