The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ondo State has slammed the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, Mr. Peter Olagookun, over his alleged ill-considered claims of being the state’s leading opposition party.
It said in a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Mr Steve Otaloro, that:
“The attention of the Ondo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress has been drawn to the rather extravagant and ill-considered assertions made by the newly inaugurated chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Mr. Peter Olagookun.
“While we understand that the excitement of assuming a new office can momentarily cloud judgment, it remains profoundly perplexing that a party still battling for basic organisational relevance would indulge in such spectacular political fantasy.
I”t is nothing short of astonishing that the NNPP, a party still struggling to secure a modest operational foothold within the state capital, now purports to be on the verge of dislodging a well-entrenched and performance-driven political institution like the APC.
“A political organisation that has yet to establish functional administrative structures in Akure should perhaps prioritise the acquisition of an office space before embarking on grand proclamations of electoral dominance in 2027.
“Contrary to the picture painted by Mr. Olagookun, the APC in Ondo State is not engaged in desperate membership drives.
“On the contrary, our party continues to receive new members in significant numbers—individuals who are voluntarily migrating from opposition parties due to the visible, measurable, and transformative governance delivered under Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa.
“The Governor’s EASE Agenda and his far-reaching developmental interventions have elevated public confidence in government and consolidated our party’s standing across all strata of the state.
“It is therefore absurd for the NNPP to proclaim itself the principal opposition party in Ondo State when its presence remains, at best, embryonic.
“The PDP, which Mr. Olagookun derided as divided, and the ADC, which he dismissed as a coalition of retirees, are scarcely distinguishable from the NNPP itself in terms of operational weakness. Indeed, the three appear united only in their inertia. If these are the political forces the NNPP seeks to surpass, then its own self-congratulation is decidedly premature.
“Furthermore, the assertion that all APC legislators at both state and national levels have failed their constituencies is an unfortunate demonstration of the NNPP chairman’s lack of familiarity with the political landscape he claims to be contesting.
“Ondo State’s representatives in the National and State Assemblies have consistently delivered developmental projects, sponsored impactful legislation, and facilitated constituency-based initiatives that have brought tangible improvements to their communities. Such sweeping dismissals by the NNPP amount to political rhetoric unmoored from fact.
“While the APC welcomes robust democratic contestation, it must be emphasised that elections are not won through proclamations at inaugural ceremonies.
“They are won through institutional strength, sustained public trust, verifiable achievements, and capacity for governance—all of which the APC possesses, and all of which the NNPP conspicuously lacks at this time.
“The APC remains firmly focused on deepening development, expanding opportunities, and consolidating the remarkable progress recorded under Governor Aiyedatiwa.
“If the NNPP truly aspires to compete meaningfully in 2027, it may begin by establishing basic administrative structures, articulating coherent policy alternatives, and engaging the electorate with seriousness rather than bravado.
“Until then, we encourage Mr. Olagookun and his team to temper celebration with reflection. Governance and party leadership require sobriety, not theatrical declarations.”
