Ondo APC elders reject coalition, target one million votes for Tinubu in 2027

Elders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State have said the party does not need any coalition arrangement to win the 2027 elections in the state, and set a target of at least one million votes for President Bola Tinubu's re-election.

The group, under the banner of the PBAT Mandate Elders Forum, made the position known at a press briefing in Akure on Wednesday. Its chairman, Demola Ijabiyi, said the APC controls government at both state and local levels in Ondo, so there is no reason to give up candidates or constituencies in exchange for support.

"In Ondo State, the APC is the dominant political party, controlling government at both the state and local government levels," Ijabiyi said. He added that the forum welcomes support from other parties for the President, but would not accept any deal that requires APC candidates to step down.

Why it matters

The 2027 general elections are still more than a year away, but parties are already positioning themselves. For ordinary voters in Ondo, the argument is about who gets to contest in their wards and who they will see on the ballot. The elders said they want to reach every ward and polling unit to mobilise voters, with women and youths taking leading roles.

Ijabiyi said Ondo has more than two million registered voters ahead of the 2027 governorship election, and the forum has set a voter turnout target of at least 80 per cent. He said the challenge is to turn that figure into actual participation at the polls.

On the opposition, he said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), once the main rival in the state, has lost ground. "Where is PDP today? Where are their candidates?" he asked, adding that the forum would not step down its candidates for what he called emergency parties.

The forum also warned APC members against supporting any candidate outside the party, saying such a move amounts to anti-party activity. "Whoever does that will fail and fail woefully," Ijabiyi said.

He stressed that the elders are not at odds with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, describing him as the leader of the party in the state.

What happens next

The forum said it has set up a statewide mobilisation structure across all 18 local government areas, and has asked its chapters to draw up grassroots plans and report regularly on their activities. It also urged APC candidates for National and State Assembly seats to campaign actively and work with local party leaders.

The group said it is preparing for a reception for the President in the state on November 11, 2026, and called on members to turn out peacefully in large numbers.