Ondo APC Chairman: Party Remains United Despite Internal Disagreements
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State and former member of the National Assembly, Babatunde Kolawole, has said the party remains united despite disagreements among some of its members ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Kolawole, who spoke in an interview with PETER DADA, addressed the challenges within the party, efforts to restore unity, relationships among APC leaders and politicians in the state, and the party's ambition to secure at least one million votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Ondo State in the 2027 presidential election.
“Disagreements Are Normal in Politics”
Kolawole, who was recently elected chairman of the APC in Ondo State, acknowledged that the party had experienced disagreements among its members but argued that such disputes were normal in political organisations.
He said political parties would always experience disagreements and disputes, but maintained that the APC had internal mechanisms for resolving such matters.
According to him, shortly after he assumed office as state chairman, the leadership began working on strengthening the structure of the party. However, the political calendar quickly became crowded with several elections and party activities.
He explained that the party had to deal with the rerun election in the Ondo South Senatorial District, while simultaneously preparing for the general elections and primary elections for the Ondo State House of Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate.
The party also had to organise its ward, local government and national congresses, leaving little time for the leadership to concentrate on internal reconciliation.
Kolawole said:
“It is normal for a political party to have problems. There will be arguments and political disagreements. But one good thing about our party is that, as leaders of the party, we have mechanisms within the party to resolve such disagreements and other problems.”
He said the leadership now had an opportunity to examine the disagreements that emerged from the various political processes and determine how they could be resolved.
APC Chairman Rejects Claims of Division
Asked whether the APC was becoming divided ahead of the elections, Kolawole rejected the suggestion.
He described the disagreements as minor political differences that were not strong enough to divide the party in Ondo State.
According to him, the party had already taken steps to address complaints arising from its primary elections.
He explained that a review committee was established to examine the outcome of the primaries, after which the committee submitted its report to the national leadership and decisions were subsequently taken.
Kolawole said this was part of the normal processes within the APC.
He also used his personal political experience to explain why party members must learn to accept decisions made by the leadership.
According to him, he had previously contested for a seat in the House of Representatives, served for four years and wanted to return for a second term, but was not given the party's ticket.
He said although he had the right to express his disappointment, he ultimately accepted the decision of the party leadership.
Kolawole said:
“It is my right to protest because I am human, and everybody has the right to express their opinion. But it must be done in such a way that after you have expressed what is troubling you, the party leaders can still talk to you and appeal to you.”
He added that losing a party ticket did not necessarily mean the end of a politician's relevance within the APC, noting that he later became an adviser to the government.
Reconciliation Committee Begins Work
Kolawole said the party had already established a reconciliation committee to address grievances among members.
He explained that the committee was expected to meet with dissatisfied members, listen to their complaints and work toward resolving disagreements.
According to him, political disagreements were inevitable following primaries and other party activities because some aspirants would emerge victorious while others would lose.
He said losing candidates had the right to express their views but should ultimately allow the party's internal mechanisms to address their grievances.
Kolawole also acknowledged that some aggrieved members had taken their complaints to court.
However, he said the reconciliation committee would engage with them as part of the party's effort to restore unity.
“Our Priority Is Tinubu's 2027 Victory”
The Ondo APC chairman said the party's most important objective at the moment was to prepare for the 2027 presidential election and secure victory for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He said Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa had publicly declared that Ondo State belonged to Tinubu politically, adding that the party had set an ambitious target of securing at least one million votes for the President in the state.
Kolawole acknowledged that achieving the target would require the cooperation of everyone within the party.
He said:
“The most important thing for us is the presidential election of Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The governor has publicly said that Ondo State is for Tinubu. Our goal is to ensure that the President gets not less than one million votes, and we are working very hard to achieve this.”
He added that the party would need the support of its members, support groups and other stakeholders to achieve the target.
Party Says Support Groups Are Not Dividing APC
Kolawole also dismissed reports suggesting that different support groups within the APC were creating divisions in the party.
He said there were numerous support groups registered with the party, and their activities should not be interpreted as evidence of division.
According to him, the support groups all had a common objective: supporting the APC and working toward victory for President Tinubu and other party candidates.
He said he had personally engaged some of the groups and was prepared to support their activities where necessary.
Kolawole disclosed that about 84 support groups had registered with the party in the state.
He stressed that the APC's political activities should not be concentrated only in the state capital.
Instead, he said the party must strengthen its grassroots structure because elections are ultimately won through support at the local level.
He explained that support from the governor and national leaders would be channelled through the party structure to the various registered support groups.
“I Have a Good Relationship With the Ministers”
Kolawole also dismissed reports of strained relationships between Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and other APC figures in Ondo State.
He said he had met with Tunji-Ojo several times and had held discussions with him on party matters.
He also said he had engaged with the Minister of Youth and other ministers involved in political activities in the state.
According to Kolawole, the party's State Working Committee had been working with the ministers and other stakeholders on various activities, including party congresses, primary elections and strengthening the party structure.
He said:
“I have been working with all three ministers, particularly those who are involved in politics. What is most important to me is the result. The result is what matters.”
Kolawole maintained that the APC leadership in Ondo State had a good working relationship with the ministers.
APC Chairman Rejects Claims of Rivalry
Responding to claims that some APC members were more loyal to Tunji-Ojo than to Governor Aiyedatiwa, Kolawole said he did not see such developments as evidence of division.
He argued that the various support groups were ultimately working toward the same political objective.
According to him, the identity of the individual supporting a particular group was less important than the overall objective of securing victory for the party.
He said the APC needed every support group because the party's objective was to win the presidential election as well as elections into the state and National Assembly.
Kolawole said:
“All of us are members of the same party.”
He added that the party had completed most of its congresses and primary elections and should now concentrate on working together ahead of the general elections.
“Opposition Parties Are Still There”
On the perception that the APC had weakened or virtually eliminated opposition parties in Nigeria and Ondo State, Kolawole rejected the claim.
He said opposition parties were still active and that politicians from other parties were preparing to contest various elective positions in the forthcoming elections.
According to him, the fact that some politicians were moving into the APC did not mean that opposition parties no longer existed.
He argued that people were joining the APC because of what he described as the achievements of the Tinubu administration.
Kolawole Highlights Tinubu Government's Projects
The Ondo APC chairman pointed to several projects and policies of the Federal Government as reasons he believed people were becoming more interested in the APC.
He mentioned the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, saying that the project was already visible and would have a significant impact on transportation and economic activities.
He also pointed to road construction and rehabilitation along routes connecting Akure, Lagos, Ibadan and Ilesa, saying that the projects could be seen physically rather than being merely political claims.
Kolawole also mentioned government initiatives relating to student support, the removal of fuel subsidy and efforts to address security challenges.
He acknowledged that the country had not yet reached where it wanted to be but argued that the government was making efforts to improve the situation.
According to him, the APC should not be blamed for every challenge facing Nigeria because previous administrations had also played a role in creating some of the problems inherited by the current government.
However, he maintained that the Tinubu administration had taken what he described as strong and decisive measures and that the results would become increasingly visible.
APC Says It Is Focused on Grassroots Mobilisation
Kolawole stressed that political success could not be achieved by concentrating solely on activities in the state capital.
He said the APC leadership was focusing on strengthening its grassroots structures across Ondo State.
According to him, the party's strategy was to move from the leadership at the top through the established structures down to local communities and voters.
He said the party's support groups, ward structures and other political organisations would all have roles to play in mobilising voters ahead of 2027.
He added that the APC's objective was not limited to the presidential election but also included winning seats in the Ondo State House of Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate.
“Opposition Parties Are Not a Threat to Us”
When asked directly whether opposition parties posed a threat to the APC in Ondo State, Kolawole said they did not.
He maintained that the APC's strength came from its growing membership and what he described as the performance of the Tinubu administration.
He said:
“You cannot blame us because we are making our party stronger. What is bringing people to the APC is what the party is doing at the national level under the leadership of the President.”
Kolawole said the party would continue to consolidate its structures while working toward its target of securing one million votes for President Tinubu in Ondo State.
With the 2027 elections approaching, the Ondo APC leadership now faces the challenge of maintaining internal cohesion, resolving grievances from the primary elections and transforming its political structures and support groups into votes at the grassroots.
For Kolawole, the message is clear: the disagreements within the party are manageable, the reconciliation process is underway, and the APC's immediate priority is to unite its members and prepare for victory in the 2027 elections.