Elders of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State have warned Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa against imposing unpopular candidates ahead of the party’s primaries for the 2027 National and State Assembly elections.

The elders, operating under the platform of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Elders Forum, urged the governor to consult widely with party stakeholders before endorsing any aspirant.

They said inclusive decision-making would help prevent internal disputes and strengthen party unity ahead of the elections.

The convener of the group, Ademola Ijabiyi, spoke on Wednesday during a free medical outreach for elderly residents in Akure sponsored by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.

Ijabiyi said the forum would support any mode of primary election eventually adopted by the party, but insisted that all relevant stakeholders must be carried along in the process.

“We are not an appendage of the government or the governor. We are independent elders working for the election of President Bola Tinubu,” he said.

According to him, several elders had not been consulted regarding reports that some aspirants had already met with the governor over the primaries.

He acknowledged that governors often influence legislative candidate selection because elected lawmakers would work closely with the administration, but stressed that wise leadership requires broad consultation.

“As a matter of party politics, the governor is expected to influence the selection of House of Assembly members because they will work with him. But a wise governor will consult widely before making decisions,” he added.

The elders expressed confidence that the APC primaries in Ondo State would be peaceful but said they were prepared to step in if disagreements emerged.

Ijabiyi maintained that the group had no preferred candidates and was mainly focused on mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

He also predicted that Ondo State would deliver strong electoral support for Tinubu and the APC.

Candidate imposition has remained a recurring source of conflict within many Nigerian political parties, often resulting in defections, lawsuits, and post-primary crises.

With the 2027 elections approaching, consultations and political alignments are already intensifying across Ondo State as aspirants seek support for various offices.