Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has dismissed reports linking him to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), insisting that he remains a committed member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The governor reacted after photographs of him with the ADC’s Ondo Central Senatorial candidate, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, circulated online following a church service at the Government House Chapel in Akure on Sunday.
The pictures, which also featured some of Akinyelure’s supporters and other personalities from Idanre, sparked speculation that Aiyedatiwa was building political ties with members of the opposition.
In a statement issued on Monday by his Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, the governor described the reports as “false, misleading and deliberately mischievous,” accusing those behind them of trying to create division within the APC.
Aiyedatiwa explained that the Government House Chapel, like the mosque within the Government House complex, is a public place of worship open to everyone, regardless of political affiliation.
“The Government House Chapel is a public place of worship. Just like the Mosque within the Government House premises, the Chapel is open to all citizens, religious leaders and public officials who wish to worship. It is not an APC-only facility. To suggest otherwise is to misunderstand the purpose of Government House as the house of all the people of Ondo State,” the statement said.
The governor clarified that Senator Ayo Akinyelure attended the church service to worship and also used the opportunity to thank him for sending representatives and a goodwill message to his 70th birthday celebration held last week.
According to the statement, “Senator Akinyelure was at the Government House Chapel to worship and to personally thank His Excellency for sending representation and a goodwill message on the occasion of his 70th birthday last week. This is a normal act of courtesy, decorum and respect that transcends party lines.”
The statement also noted that Senator Ayo Akinyelure is the younger brother of Chief Pius Akinyelure, a prominent APC leader, ally of President Bola Tinubu and Chairman of the Governor’s Advisory Council in Ondo State.
Rejecting claims of any political alliance with the ADC, the governor stressed that the meeting should not be interpreted as a partnership with the opposition.
“Governor Aiyedatiwa remains committed to the APC and all its candidates. The Governor will work with all party structures to ensure that APC wins all elections in Ondo State,” the statement added.
The governor urged APC members and residents of the state to ignore what he described as attempts by political opponents to create confusion within the ruling party, insisting that his administration remains focused on governance rather than political distractions.
“The Governor remains focused. The APC remains strong. And Ondo State will continue to progress,” the statement concluded.
The clarification comes amid political tension within the Ondo APC following the party’s recent primary elections and speculation over an alleged rivalry between Governor Aiyedatiwa and the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
Reports indicate that the outcome of the recent APC primary elections favoured allies of Tunji-Ojo over supporters of the governor, fuelling speculation about growing political differences between the two leaders.
