As the Ondo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) prepares for another period of change in the baton of leadership, three political heavyweights and formidable candidates have signified their respective interests to lead the party in the succeeding dispensation.
The gladiators who shared their disparate vision plans for the ruling party however intersected in such pertinent areas as unity, transparency, grassroots inclusion, and internal democracy.
The three APC chairman hopefuls are Alhaji Abdulazeez Oluboyo, Mr Kolawole Babatunde (politically known as Amaechi), and Mr Ganny Oluwadare Dauda.
On his part, Alhaji Abdulazeez Oluboyo, a staunch party faithful and veteran political shared his lofty visions for the party. He however dismissed insinuations of a crisis within the party’s inner circle. “There is no crisis in Ondo APC. What others see as conflict, we resolve as a family,” he said, alluding to the mediation role he played successfully during the last APC primaries.
While promising to widen the party’s net, solidify it and ensure that party faithfuls benefit from government incentives, Oluboyo also reiterated his commitment to carrying the banner of youth and women inclusion, noting that they are at the heart of any party’s success at polls. “Once you win the trust of the youth and women, you’ve gained lasting political strength,” he emphasised.
Sharing his own plans, Honourable Kolawole Babatunde, a self-styled reformist, vowed to return the party to its true owner— the people. He opined that his people-centric leadership would strengthen the party’s internal democracy. A grassroots politician, Babatunde vowed to end imposition of candidates in the party. “My goal is to reposition APC as a people-driven platform that empowers both old stalwarts and emerging leaders,” he said. He further stressed the importance of transparency in leadership, promising regular financial reports and a decision-making process woven around inclusivity.
He envisions a strong collaboration between the party and government, ensuring campaign promises translate into development. With a long-standing reputation for humility and accessibility, Babatunde promises an open-door leadership style: “Service to the party must never go unnoticed.”
Priding himself as a meticulous politician who has risen through the ranks– from councillorship to local government chairmanship and finally the House of Representatives– Honourable Ganny Oluwadare Dauda projects himself as a unifier and stabilizer. With great experience in grassroots politics, Dauda vowed to tighten the knots of party structures across all levels without diminished loyalty to the party’s constitution.
“I am different by experience and integrity. My leadership will give recognition to every arm of the party—from wards to the state level,” he stated. Dauda acknowledged the sensitivity around consensus candidacy and urged transparency to avoid division.
Dauda welcomed the exodus of new members into the APC, likening it to passengers realizing they’re on the wrong bus: “They’ve rejoined the right journey, and that’s good for our party.”
The lineup of these veteran politicians and strong party stalwarts leaves the in Ondo APC in a dilemma of choice. The question on everybody’s lips is: “Who’s next?” Is it Abdulazeez Oluboyo, Babatunde Kolawole or Ganny Oluwadare Dauda. Time will tell.
