AKURE, Ondo State — The political landscape in Ondo State descended into chaos on Monday as hundreds of women and youths from the All Progressives Congress took to the streets of the state capital, blocking major roads and momentarily halting Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s convoy in a dramatic protest against the National Working Committee’s decision to substitute the party’s National Assembly candidates.
The demonstration, which paralyzed traffic along the busy Oyemekun Road and Akure-Ilesa Expressway, marked a significant escalation in the internal crisis engulfing the state chapter of the ruling party. At the heart of the outrage was the omission of Rep. Abiola Makinde, the incumbent lawmaker representing Ondo East/Ondo West Federal Constituency, from the party’s final list of candidates submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
“This list does not reflect the mandate of the people,” declared Mrs. Seun Osamaye, the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, who led the protesters. Addressing journalists amid a sea of placards bearing inscriptions such as “Say no to fake appeal” and “Our votes must count,” Osamaye insisted that the NWC had disregarded the voices of party members who voted across the state’s 203 wards.
“We voted massively for our candidates, and it should reflect in the list that has been pasted. But what we are seeing online does not reflect what we voted for,” Osamaye stated, demanding that President Bola Tinubu intervene, describing him as “a president for women” with a reputation for fairness and justice.
A Sweeping Overhaul
The protest follows a letter dated June 29, 2026, signed by APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda and National Secretary Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru, which conveyed the party’s “final position” on the affected constituencies after consideration of Primary Election Appeal Committee reports.
The review produced a sweeping overhaul of the party’s slate in Ondo State, affecting two of the three senatorial candidates and six House of Representatives candidates. Among the most contentious changes, Dr. Michael Olamidotun Akintomide replaced Rep. Abiola Makinde for the Ondo East/Ondo West ticket.
Other affected constituencies included Ilaje/Ese Odo, where Hon. Donald K. Ojogo replaced Mr. Akingboye Leke; Idanre/Ifedore, where Hon. Festus Olarewaju Akingbaso displaced Hon. Rasaq Obe; and Owo/Ose, where Hon. Dr. Oluwatimehin Adelegbe took over from Hon. Kayode Adejana.
For the Senate, Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire (SAN) replaced Dr. Taiwo Fasoranti for Ondo Central, while Senator Olajide Ipinsagba emerged in place of Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye for Ondo North. The Ondo South ticket remained unchanged, with Hon. Isaac Kekemeke retaining his position.
A “Democratic Coup” or Due Process?
The substitutions have ignited fierce debate, with many party faithful decrying what they perceive as imposition from Abuja. Mr. Bright Ojo, a youth leader of the party, described the development as “a democratic coup” against the people of Ondo State.
“The people of Ondo State voted en masse during the direct primary, and the results reflected the will, the wishes, and the mandate of the people from the field,” Ojo said. “All of a sudden, we are seeing rumours, speculations, and some kind of hanky-panky that some names were being shuffled, reshuffled, and even replaced.”
The protest highlighted growing tensions between the party’s national leadership and the state’s political structure. One of the excluded candidates, Razaq Obe, who lost the Idanre/Ifedore ticket, warned that allowing the revised list to stand would “subject the party to ridicule” and represent the APC “purchasing its own death in instalments.”
Obe questioned the legality of the substitutions, noting that his name had already been submitted to INEC through the proper primary and appeal channels.
Grassroots Fury
The protests underscore a deepening crisis of confidence in the party’s internal democracy. Demonstrators demanded that the party leadership respect the outcomes of the primaries, chanting solidarity songs and displaying placards rejecting what they termed “mago-mago” (fraudulent) appeals.
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s convoy was momentarily blocked during the demonstration, underscoring the political weight of the protest and the potential consequences for the party’s electoral fortunes in the state.
In a related development, Engr. Austin Pelemo, a former Special Assistant to the Governor, faulted the NWC’s decision, warning that “undermining the grassroots influence of a sitting state governor is tantamount to courting electoral failure.”
A Test of Party Unity
As the dust settles, the controversy presents a significant challenge to the APC’s leadership. The NWC defended its decision, stating that the reviewed list was in line with the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines.
However, with the women and youth wings of the party in open revolt, the crisis threatens to fracture the party’s unity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The protesters have made their position clear. “We say no to corner-corner appeal. People’s votes should count,” Osamaye reiterated, as the demonstrators vowed to continue their resistance until the party leadership heeds their call.
Whether the national leadership will yield to grassroots pressure or risk a protracted internal conflict remains to be seen. But for now, the streets of Akure have spoken, and the message is unmistakable: the people’s mandate must not be overturned.
