{"id":1365,"date":"2026-04-22T09:32:58","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T09:32:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thepublicsquare.com.ng\/?p=1365"},"modified":"2026-04-22T09:32:59","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T09:32:59","slug":"akure-south-apc-grassroots-reject-outsider-candidate-narrative-ahead-of-assembly-race-writes-mr-governor-and-party-leaders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thepublicsquare.com.ng\/index.php\/2026\/04\/22\/akure-south-apc-grassroots-reject-outsider-candidate-narrative-ahead-of-assembly-race-writes-mr-governor-and-party-leaders\/","title":{"rendered":"Akure South APC Grassroots Reject \u2018Outsider\u2019 Candidate Narrative Ahead of Assembly Race, Writes Mr Governor and Party Leaders"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What was meant to be a quiet build-up to the 2027 elections in Akure South Constituency 1 has taken a dramatic turn, much earlier than expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A letter now circulating within political circles in Ondo State is stirring conversations, drawing lines, and reopening old wounds within the All Progressives Congress (APC). At the center of it all is a familiar struggle in Nigerian politics: who truly represents the people?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Quiet Letter, A Loud Message<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dated April 20, 2026, the letter, signed by Concerned Akure APC Members\u2014was addressed to Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa. But beyond its formal tone lies a deeply rooted concern that is anything but ordinary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This isn\u2019t just about one aspirant.
It\u2019s about identity, ownership, and political respect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The group alleges that there are calculated efforts underway to position a particular individual as the sole candidate for Akure South Constituency 1\u2014despite not being an indigene of the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And that, they insist, is a line that should not be crossed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRepresentation Must Mean Something\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In many constituencies, party loyalty often trumps local identity. But Akure South appears to be drawing a hard boundary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For these party members, representation goes beyond winning elections\u2014it is about shared roots, cultural belonging, and lived experience within the constituency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their concern is simple but powerful:
How can someone represent a people they are not organically connected to?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ghost of 2023 Still Lingers<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is not the first time such tensions have surfaced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The letter subtly\u2014but firmly\u2014points back to the 2023 elections during the administration of Rotimi Akeredolu. A similar scenario reportedly played out then, where internal warnings were overlooked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The outcome? A political miscalculation that cost the party dearly at the polls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, history seems to be knocking again\u2014this time louder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More Than Politics: A Test of Internal Democracy<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What makes this situation particularly significant is what it represents for party democracy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Across Nigeria, accusations of candidate imposition are not new. But each instance chips away at trust within party structures. When grassroots voices feel sidelined, loyalty begins to weaken, and elections become unpredictable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Akure South may just be the latest stage where this broader national issue is playing out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Between Loyalty and Reality<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interestingly, the tone of the letter is not rebellious, it is cautious, respectful, and calculated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The writers acknowledge the leadership of Governor Ayedatiwa and reaffirm their commitment to the APC. Yet, they also deliver a subtle but unmistakable message:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Ignore the grassroots at your own risk.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Their closing remark, that electoral victory cannot be guaranteed under the current trajectory\u2014reads less like a threat and more like a political forecast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why This Matters Now<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It might seem early to raise alarms for a 2027 election. But seasoned political watchers know that in Nigeria, battles are often won, or lost\u2014long before election day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Candidate selection is strategy.
Perception is power.
And unity is everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If not carefully managed, this situation could evolve from an internal disagreement into a full-blown electoral setback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bigger Question<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the dust begins to rise in Akure South, one question stands tall:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Will the APC choose political convenience\u2014or grassroots legitimacy?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because in the end, the voters always have the final say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Letter in full
\ud83d\udc47\ud83c\udffc\ud83d\udc47\ud83c\udffc\ud83d\udc47\ud83c\udffc\ud83d\udc47\ud83c\udffc<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CONCERNED AKURE APC MEMBERS
Akure, Ondo State<\/p>\n\n\n\n

20th April 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His Excellency,
Governor Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa
Executive Governor of Ondo State
Governor\u2019s Office, Alagbaka
Akure, Ondo State<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A CALL TO PROTECT DEMOCRATIC INTEGRITY AND INDIGENOUS REPRESENTATION IN AKURE SOUTH CONSTITUENCY 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your Excellency,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We, the Concerned Akure APC Members, write with utmost respect and a deep sense of responsibility to our party and to the people of Akure South.
At the outset, we humbly acknowledge and commend your exemplary leadership in Ondo State. Your administration has continued to deliver visible and impactful progress across multiple sectors, reflecting your unwavering commitment to the welfare of the people and your dedication to building a more prosperous and forward-looking Ondo State. Your strides in governance have not gone unnoticed, and we are proud to be associated with a government that prioritizes development and inclusivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Your Excellency, it has become imperative to draw your urgent attention to a sensitive and potentially destabilizing situation within Akure South Constituency 1, particularly as preparations for the 2027 Ondo State House of Assembly elections gradually take shape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have observed with grave concern that certain individuals, who are neither indigenes of Akure South nor connected in any meaningful way to the constituency, are making deliberate and calculated efforts to impose an aspirant who does not reflect the identity, heritage, or interests of our people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Specifically, there are ongoing moves to position Mrs. Adeola Rosemary Fynch as the sole candidate of our great party in the forthcoming election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your Excellency, this development is deeply troubling. We wish to categorically state, based on verifiable records and available data, that Mrs. Adeola Rosemary Fynch is not an indigene of Akure South, but rather hails from Ilesa in Osun State. Consequently, she does not possess the indigenous standing required to represent the people of Akure South Constituency 1 at the Ondo State House of Assembly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The actions of these sponsors and political intruders, whose motives remain unclear but questionable, represent a direct affront to the democratic rights and cultural identity of the legitimate indigenes of Akure South. Our constituency has never been, and must never become, a testing ground for externally imposed candidates or political experiments detached from local realities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We urge those involved to reflect on recent political history. A similar situation unfolded during the 2023 elections under the administration of our revered late Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu. Despite strong reservations and repeated warnings from concerned stakeholders and party members within Akure South, the emergence of Hon. Borokini as the party\u2019s flag bearer was met with widespread disapproval. The consequence was clear and unfortunate, the party suffered defeat in that election. We cannot afford a recurrence of such a costly mistake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The people of Akure South Constituency 1 have consistently resisted the imposition of non-indigenous representation, and their position remains firm. Any attempt to disregard this collective will risks alienating the electorate and undermining the party\u2019s chances at the polls.
In light of the foregoing, we respectfully call on Your Excellency to intervene decisively in this matter. We appeal to you to ensure that the democratic process is upheld, that fairness prevails, and that the authentic voice of the people of Akure South Constituency 1 is neither silenced nor overridden by external influences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We must state, with all sense of responsibility, that should the candidacy of Mrs. Adeola Rosemary Fynch be allowed to stand under these circumstances, we cannot guarantee the electoral success of our party in Akure South. This is not a threat, but a sincere expression of political reality based on grassroots sentiment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your Excellency, we trust in your well-known commitment to justice, fairness, and democratic principles. We believe strongly that under your leadership, the integrity of our party and the will of the people will be preserved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We thank you for your time, attention, and anticipated intervention in this critical matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yours faithfully,
For: Concerned Akure APC Members
Comrade Ayeni Temidayo<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cc:
The Ondo State Chairman
All Progressive Congress (APC)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Akure South Local Government Chairman
All Progressive Congress (APC)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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