Political parties often proclaim unity after every primary election, but the period following the exercise usually presents the greatest test of their internal strength. While party primaries are meant to deepen democracy by allowing members to choose their preferred candidates, they also produce winners and losers, leaving behind bruised ambitions, fractured alliances and lingering grievances.
In Ondo State, the aftermath of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections has once again brought these realities into sharp focus. Rather than ending political contestation, the exercise has sparked fresh debates over internal democracy, party supremacy, reconciliation and the capacity of the ruling party to close ranks before the next general election.
The question confronting the APC is no longer simply about who emerged as candidates. It is whether the party can reconcile competing interests quickly enough to preserve its electoral advantage in one of the South-West’s strategic states.
Across Nigeria’s political landscape, history offers a familiar lesson. Parties rarely lose elections solely because of the popularity of their opponents. More often, internal disagreements, unresolved grievances and weakened grassroots structures create openings that opposition parties are quick to exploit.
The APC is not unaware of this reality. Following the conclusion of the primaries, several successful candidates immediately shifted attention from celebration to reconciliation, urging disappointed aspirants and their supporters to embrace the party’s decisions in the interest of future electoral success.
The APC candidate for Ondo East/Ondo West Federal Constituency, Michael Akintomide, is among those advocating calm. While acknowledging that emotions naturally run high after every primary election, he appealed to party faithful to respect the authority of the National Working Committee (NWC).
According to him, members should “remain calm” because “the National Working Committee has spoken,” insisting that the principle of party supremacy must prevail over individual interests. He also urged supporters to ignore divisive narratives on social media and avoid participating in protests capable of deepening internal divisions.
Akintomide expressed confidence that the current disagreements would not ultimately affect the APC’s electoral fortunes.
”This is the aftermath of an election,” he observed, adding that although people have the right to express dissatisfaction, “the party is superior to any personal interest.”
His optimism reflects a long-held tradition within Nigerian politics, where leaders often expect post-primary tensions to subside once campaigns gather momentum.
The lawmaker also reaffirmed Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s position as the constitutional leader of the party in Ondo State, expressing confidence that party leaders would work together in the overall interest of the APC. For Akintomide, unity must extend beyond individual constituencies.
”If I win in my federal constituency and another APC candidate loses, where is the glory?” he asked, stressing that all candidates must work together to ensure collective victory.
The same message was echoed by the APC candidate for Irele/Okitipupa Federal Constituency, Jimi Odimayo.
While expressing appreciation to President Bola Tinubu, the APC leadership and key stakeholders for their support during the nomination process, Odimayo said the time had come for members to put the contest behind them.
He advised party faithful to “accept the candidates of the party” and unite for the progress of the APC, describing the relationship among aspirants, elected officials and party leaders as “one big family.”
Such appeals, however, represent only one side of the unfolding political story.
For some party members, reconciliation cannot be achieved without first addressing concerns over the integrity of the primary process itself.
This sentiment was evident during protests organised by aggrieved APC members in Akure following the release of the party’s candidates’ list.
Leading one of the demonstrations, Ondo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Seun Osamaye, questioned whether the final list truly reflected the mandate produced during the direct primaries.
”We know those we voted for,” she said, insisting that the names released by the party did not correspond with the votes counted across the state’s wards.
Describing the protest as peaceful, Osamaye maintained that the women were demanding transparency rather than confrontation. According to her, “People’s votes should count,” urging the party’s national leadership to clarify the appeal process that produced the final list.
The APC Women Leader in Ondo State, Princess Oluwayemisi Iji-Ayeola, voiced similar concerns.
She argued that women in the party were protesting because they believed the outcome announced by the national leadership differed from what transpired during the primaries.
Calling for the release of what she described as the authentic results, she maintained that the party possessed records from the ward, local government and state levels capable of resolving the controversy.
Another protester, Ojo Bright, framed the disagreement as a defence of internal democracy, arguing that members were resisting what they perceived as attempts to undermine the outcome of the direct primary election.
Although the allegations remain contested within the party, the protests showed the depth of dissatisfaction among some stakeholders and highlighted why reconciliation has become such an urgent priority.
Analysts argue that disagreements arising from party primaries become particularly difficult to resolve because aspirants often invest enormous financial resources, political goodwill and years of grassroots mobilisation before seeking nomination.
Where participants believe the process was transparent, defeat is generally easier to accept.
However, when questions emerge over fairness or procedural integrity, grievances tend to extend beyond personal disappointment to the legitimacy of the process itself.
This partly explains why reconciliation in Nigerian politics frequently requires more than public appeals for peace.
Many observers believe genuine reconciliation must involve sustained dialogue, inclusion of aggrieved stakeholders and deliberate confidence-building measures capable of restoring trust in the party’s internal democratic processes.
The importance of leadership in achieving that objective was emphasised by the Director-General of the Asiwaju Mandate Group (AMG) in Ondo State, Olumuyiwa Asagunla.
While welcoming the emergence of APC candidates, Asagunla said his group’s mobilisation efforts had been ongoing long before the election season.
According to him, the organisation has spent months mobilising grassroots support for President Bola Tinubu and promoting the programmes of the APC across Ondo State.
He pointed to ongoing federal road projects and other developmental initiatives as evidence that the party has tangible achievements to present to voters.
Yet, despite expressing confidence in the APC’s electoral prospects, Asagunla acknowledged that internal unity remains essential.
”One thing we need to do in the APC, especially in Ondo State, is to unite the party,” he said, urging leaders to ensure that every stakeholder feels accommodated after the primaries.
His remarks reflect a broader consensus among political observers that reconciliation cannot succeed through declarations alone. Party leaders must also create opportunities for former rivals to participate meaningfully in campaign structures and decision-making processes.
Interestingly, not every influential stakeholder supports the position of the protesters.
The APC Elders Forum in Ondo State has openly endorsed the National Working Committee’s handling of the candidates’ list.
Chairman of the forum, Demola Ijabiyi, described the NWC’s decision as a reaffirmation of party supremacy and urged dissatisfied members to accept the outcome with dignity.
According to him, “the decisions of the party’s leadership are binding on all members,” warning that continued protests could undermine party discipline and distract from preparations for the 2027 elections.
The elders equally pledged to support reconciliation efforts while mobilising support for President Tinubu’s re-election and other APC candidates across Ondo State.
The contrasting positions adopted by the protesters and the elders illustrate the difficult balancing act facing the APC leadership.
On one hand is the constitutional principle of party supremacy, which requires members to respect decisions taken by recognised organs of the party. On the other hand is the expectation that party members should have confidence in the fairness, transparency and credibility of internal democratic processes.
Reconciling these competing expectations may ultimately determine the APC’s ability to maintain cohesion before the general election.
However, across Ondo State, many residents are more concerned about infrastructure, healthcare, education, security, agriculture and employment than about disagreements arising from party primaries.
Ultimately, whichever party succeeds in convincing voters that it possesses both internal stability and the capacity to improve living conditions is likely to enjoy a significant electoral advantage.
For the APC, therefore, reconciliation is not merely an internal administrative exercise. It is a political necessity. The coming months will reveal which path the party chooses.
Will aggrieved stakeholders embrace reconciliation in the interest of collective success? Will party leaders create sufficient space for inclusion and confidence-building? Or will unresolved grievances continue to cast a shadow over preparations for the next election?
The answers to those questions may shape not only the future of the APC in Ondo State but also the broader political calculations leading into the 2027 general elections.
