APC Aspirant Warns Party Against Sidestepping Owo and Ose in Ondo North Primary
Alex Ajipe, a senatorial aspirant for the Ondo North Senatorial District under the All Progressives Congress (APC), has issued a strong warning to the party leadership against any attempt to marginalize the Owo and Ose Local Council Areas during the upcoming primary elections. Speaking after submitting his expression of interest and nomination forms at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, Ajipe described such a move as electoral suicide for the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
A Call for Equity and Inclusion
The aspirant emphasized that his candidacy is not driven by personal ambition but by a pressing need for fairness, inclusion, and unity within the Ondo North political framework. Ajipe, who previously served as the South-West Zonal Director for Social and Humanitarian Affairs in the Presidential Campaign Committee, highlighted the demographic weight and political awareness of Owo and Ose, which he said have been overlooked for nearly two decades.
He noted that Owo, a traditional political stronghold, last produced a senator for the district in 2007, marking a 20-year representation gap. This neglect, he argued, has fostered growing discontent among loyal party members in the area.
Numerical Strength and Electoral Consequences
Ajipe pointed out that Owo and Ose together constitute the largest voting bloc in Ondo North. Disregarding their numerical strength, he warned, would be both unjust and politically self-destructive for the APC. He cautioned that opposition parties are closely watching the primary process and would exploit any perception of injustice or candidate imposition to flip the district in the general election.
The APC chieftain cited examples from other states where internal party grievances led to mass defections and unexpected electoral losses. He called on the APC National Working Committee (NWC) and the state party leadership to ensure a level playing field for all aspirants, demanding a transparent primary where the most popular candidate emerges naturally, without manipulation or imposition.
Ajipe’s Statement
“For 20 years, Owo has waited, mobilized, and stayed loyal to the party. We have supported others, carried the party on our shoulders, and now we are ready, united, and demanding equity. This is not a plea; it is an assertion of our rightful turn.
“Owo and Ose consistently deliver the highest poll numbers in the district. Any attempt to sideline these two areas is not only unjust; it is electoral suicide for the APC.
“A rigged or imposed primary will breed disillusionment, trigger defections, and fuel voter apathy. What we have seen in other states can replay here if the party fails to conduct a free, fair, and transparent primary.
“Equity delayed for 20 years is justice denied. Give us a level playing field, let the most popular aspirant emerge, and we will defend Ondo North for the APC. Ignore the call for fairness, and the party will pay a heavy price at the polls.
“The question is not whether Owo and Ose can win; the question is whether the party has the political courage to do what is fair and just. Listen now, or expect the consequences in 2027,” Ajipe stated.
