Ondo APC Rift: Commissioner Sues 35 Party Leaders

The political rift within the Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) escalated as the state’s Commissioner for Finance, Mrs. Omowunmi Isaac, and her brother Kunle Odide, filed a libel suit against 35 APC leaders in the Ondo State High Court in Akure.

The case was presided over by Justice Yemi Fasanmi, who awarded N100,000 costs against each claimant, totaling N3.5 million in favor of the defendants. The defendants, represented by former Ondo State Attorney-General Adekola Olawoye (SAN), indicated their intention to challenge the court's jurisdiction and the suit's competence.

They also expressed a desire for reconciliation to avoid further divisions within the party as the 2027 elections approach. Olawoye stated that the dispute stemmed from a letter he wrote to the APC national chairman, which was intended as internal communication.

The claimants, through their counsel Olaoluwa Imoru, seek a declaration of defamation, damages, and a public retraction regarding a publication in the Nigerian Tribune dated February 2, 2026.