Four APC Aspirants Reject Consensus Deal to Demand Direct Primaries in Ondo East and West

Four APC candidates in Ondo East/West reject the third-term consensus for Abiola Makinde and demand a direct primary election for the 2027 seat.

By: AXL Media

Published: May 1, 2026, 10:52 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from GUARDIAN Newspapers

The Growing Rebellion Against Imposed Party Candidacy

The political landscape in Ondo State has shifted toward open confrontation as four prominent aspirants within the All Progressives Congress rejected an internal arrangement to bypass the primary election. Dr. Jibayo Adeyeye and his colleagues have declared that any move to install Hon. Abiola Makinde as a consensus candidate is an attempt to force a third term on the constituency without the input of the electorate. This internal friction highlights a deepening divide over party governance and the methodology used to select representatives for the National Assembly.

Constitutional Demands for a Democratic Primary Process

The dissatisfied candidates have made it clear that they remain committed members of the APC who have fulfilled all statutory obligations, including the acquisition of nomination and expression of interest forms. According to the communique released by the group, they were never consulted regarding the endorsement of the incumbent lawmaker. By purchasing these forms, the aspirants argue they have demonstrated a readiness for a transparent contest, making any claims of a unified consensus mathematically and politically impossible without their participation.

Public Discontent Over Current Legislative Performance

A central theme in the joint opposition is the perceived failure of current representation to meet the needs of the Ondo kingdom. The group asserts that the electorate is increasingly vocal about poor representation, which has directly influenced their decision to challenge the status quo. By positioning themselves as credible alternatives, the four aspirants claim to be responding to a specific local demand for a change in leadership style and effectiveness at the federal level, effectively turning the primary into a referendum on the incumbent's track record.