A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and Chairman of the Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board, Mr. Victor Olabimtan, has called on support groups loyal to President Bola Tinubu to unite and work toward securing victory for the president in the 2027 presidential election.
Olabimtan also debunked reports that the state governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, had directed all independent Tinubu support groups in the state to collapse into a single, uniform political structure.
The governor was alleged to have made the statement during the recent inauguration of the Ondo APC State Caucus held last weekend.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Ondo SUBEB chairman described the allegation as a deliberate distortion of the governor’s remarks at the event.
According to him, there is a need for all support groups to work together and join hands with Aiyedatiwa.
He urged independent campaign groups in the state to align their efforts with the party’s official structure, as is the practice within the APC at both state and national levels.
Olabimtan, a former Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, stated, “The twisted narrative was not only in bad taste, but it was also unnecessary.
“For the record, I witnessed the entire engagement from the beginning to the end, and at no point did Governor Aiyedatiwa order or suggest that independent campaign groups should collapse under his structure.
“Those spreading this falsehood do not understand the role of the governor as the leader of the APC in Ondo State. Clearly, they did not attend the caucus meeting and, as such, failed to grasp the governor’s actual message.”
He emphasised that Aiyedatiwa, as the sitting governor and leader of the APC in the state, is the natural patron of all support structures aligned with Tinubu, and cannot possibly operate a parallel or personalised campaign group for the president.
“The governor’s support for Tinubu is unequivocal, and his commitment to leading the president’s re-election campaign in Ondo State is not in doubt,” he stressed.
Olabimtan urged party members and stakeholders to rise above pettiness and misinformation, and instead embrace the spirit of unity and collective purpose, which he said Aiyedatiwa has consistently championed.
“As the number one citizen and APC leader in Ondo State, Governor Aiyedatiwa is naturally positioned to lead the Tinubu campaign in the state.
“It is time for all hands to be on deck. United we stand, divided we fall,” Olabimtan added.
