By Ade Oyeyemi
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, elders of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State have kicked against the proposed Rainbow Coalition, insisting that the ruling party has sufficient political strength to win without entering into alliances with other parties.
The elders, operating under the PBAT Mandate Elders Forum, warned APC members against supporting any coalition arrangement that could compel the party to surrender its candidates or compromise its electoral interests.
The forum’s position was conveyed by its chairman, Demola Ijabiyi, during a press conference in Akure, the state capital, on Wednesday.
Ijabiyi clarified that the elders’ opposition to the proposed coalition should not be interpreted as hostility towards Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, whom he recognised as the leader of the APC in the state.
He argued that the political situation in Ondo did not warrant an alliance, noting that the Peoples Democratic Party, previously the state’s major opposition party, had suffered a significant decline in political strength.
According to him, although coalition arrangements could benefit the APC in states where it faces serious electoral challenges, adopting such a strategy in Ondo would amount to an unnecessary compromise.
“There might be Rainbow Coalitions everywhere. Every piece is dominant in those states. We have no reason to be ceding our candidates for any Rainbow Coalition,” he said.
The APC chieftain questioned why the ruling party should make concessions to smaller political parties, particularly when its former major rival, the PDP, had weakened considerably.
He said, “The major political opponent that we had in Ondo State was, and I deliberately use the word, was the PDP. Where is the PDP today? Where are their candidates? They have gone down in the country.
“Now, is it all these emergency parties and emergency candidates that we are going to step down for? We have no cause for that.”
The elders maintained that the APC should focus on strengthening its internal structures and mobilising its supporters rather than entering into alliances that could threaten its chances of retaining political dominance in the state.
