Politics: Ondo APC Holds State Congress, Elects New Chairman
Although the Federal High Court in Akure halted the APC congress, the state party leaders insisted the chapter was "united and peaceful."
The Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has elected Kolawole Babatunde as its new Chairman during the party’s state congress held in Akure, the state capital.
The new executive committee, comprising 36 members, was elected by consensus, reflecting the party’s longstanding culture of unity.
Babatunde, who represented Akoko South East/South West Constituency in the House of Representatives from 2015 to 2019, previously served as Special Adviser to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Party Affairs and Legislative Matters.
Prior to the congress, some APC leaders in Ondo dismissed claims of internal crisis, insisting the state chapter was united and peaceful.
Their statement came on the backdrop of the Federal High Court sitting in Akure having stopped the planned state congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, which was scheduled for Tuesday, March 3.
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Justice Toyin Adegoke issued the interim order following an ex parte application filed by aggrieved APC members led by Lawrence Adebayo and represented by Adedayo Adedeji (SAN). The suit also challenges earlier ward and local government congresses held on February 18 and 21, 2026.
The court restrained both the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising or validating the previous congresses or proceeding with the state congress, pending the hearing of a motion for interlocutory injunction.
The judge ordered all parties to maintain the status quo before the disputed congresses and warned against taking any action that could affect the case. The matter was adjourned to March 26, 2026, for further hearing.
But addressing stakeholders at a meeting in the APC state secretariat, Governor Aiyedatiwa said reports of tension were largely fuelled by social media narratives, noting that the reality on the ground showed cohesion.
He commended the State Congress Committee for successfully conducting ward and local government congresses despite initial challenges and emphasised that disagreements were normal in any human setting, including families.
“We are not at war,” he affirmed, assuring delegates of their safety during the exercise.
APC National Vice Chairman for the South West, Isaac Kekemeke, highlighted that the culture of consensus had defined the party in Ondo since its formation in 2014.
He noted that only the chairman’s office was contested in 2014, with his opponent later becoming deputy, and all other positions were filled by consensus.
Kekemeke reiterated that disagreements in party politics should not be exaggerated into conflict and identified the governor as the recognised leader of the state party.
Chairman of the APC State Congress Committee, Ogonna Obiekwe, described the assignment of conducting the congress as a serious responsibility, assuring members that the process would be free, fair, and credible.
