Aiyedatiwa Denies Sabotage Claims Ahead of 2027 Elections

Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa addressed allegations on September 7, 2026, claiming he is sabotaging candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) after the party's national leadership substituted his preferred candidates. Aiyedatiwa labeled the accusers as "naysayers, blackmailers and slanderers." He rejected claims of funding opposition candidates as a protest against the APC leadership.

Aiyedatiwa referenced his political history, including his alignment with the Alliance for Democracy and Action Congress of Nigeria, despite the dominance of the Peoples Democratic Party in his district. He recalled the 2019 APC governorship primary, where he felt wronged by the national leadership's decision to overturn the results.

During a stakeholders' meeting in Akure, he directed local government and ward chairmen to enhance grassroots mobilization for the 2027 elections, stressing that election outcomes are determined at polling units. State APC Chairman Babatunde Kolawole supported Aiyedatiwa's message, warning against disloyalty and commending the governor for increasing allowances for party executives.