Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa
The Senior Special Assistant to the Ondo State Governor on Public Engagement, Steve Bayode Otaloro, has dismissed reports suggesting that Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has shifted his support from the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Ondo South Senatorial District, Dr. Isaacs Kekemeke, to that of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Matthew Oyerinmade.
Otaloro, in a statement on Sunday, described the allegation as untrue, insisting that Governor Aiyedatiwa remains firmly committed to the APC and its candidates.
According to him, “there is no truth whatsoever in the insinuation that Governor Aiyedatiwa has abandoned the APC candidate or is supporting the candidate of another political party.”
He said the Governor’s political history demonstrated his longstanding commitment to the progressive political family, dating back to the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which eventually metamorphosed into the APC.
Otaloro noted that it would therefore be inconsistent with the Governor’s political antecedents and current position as the leader of the APC in Ondo State for him to support an opposition candidate against the candidate of his own party.
He said, “It is inconceivable that the Governor, who currently leads the APC in Ondo State, would deliberately pitch his tent against the candidate of the same party in favour of a candidate contesting on the platform of another political party.”
The SSA further stated that Governor Aiyedatiwa had not authorised anyone to speak on his behalf in support of any opposition candidate, urging the public to disregard any claim suggesting otherwise.
He described the alleged shift in support as “false, mischievous and politically motivated,” adding that such claims were capable of creating unnecessary tension and division within the party.
Otaloro also referenced recent comments by the APC senatorial candidate, Dr. Isaacs Kekemeke, who reportedly dismissed speculation about a disagreement between him and Governor Aiyedatiwa.
He stressed that Governor Aiyedatiwa remained committed to the APC and its candidates, adding that his responsibility as the leader of the party in the state required him to uphold and support the party’s candidates.
The statement urged APC members, supporters and the general public to disregard the rumour of an alleged change in the Governor’s political support.
Otaloro reiterated that Governor Aiyedatiwa remained “an APC leader, an APC loyalist and a supporter of the party’s candidates,” stressing that he would not support any candidate against the party he leads in Ondo State.
