NASS Primaries: Tunji-Ojo Not Behind Ondo APC Crisis, Group Replies Obe
A group, BTO Renewed Hope Group, has dismissed allegations by a former Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources.in Ondo State, Razak Obe, that the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, is responsible for the crisis within the Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement issued on Tuesday by its secretary Tobi Olalekan, the group described the allegation as “categorically false,” insisting that Tunji-Ojo has no role in determining candidates for National Assembly elections.
According to the group, the minister is not a member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC and therefore does not influence the party’s decisions on the emergence of candidates.
BTO Renewed Hope Group said Tunji-Ojo remains focused on delivering on the objectives of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and supporting the President’s re-election, rather than engaging in state party disputes.
It also maintained that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa is the recognised leader of the APC in Ondo State, stressing that Tunji-Ojo has never challenged the governor’s leadership.
It said the responsibility for managing any internal disagreements within the state chapter of the party rests with the governor, working in conjunction with the APC State Working Committee.
While acknowledging that disagreements are common in political parties, the group argued that attributing the Ondo APC crisis to the minister was unfounded and not supported by the facts.
It further expressed confidence in the integrity of the APC national leadership under its National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, saying it could not be manipulated by any individual, including the minister.
It also described Obe’s claims as speculative, noting that the former commissioner was not a contestant in the National Assembly primary elections that triggered the dispute within the party.
The group said: “Just like any other political party, APC in Ondo State is bound to experience disagreements among its members following the primaries that produced candidates for the 2027 National Assembly elections. That is natural.
“To link the Minister of Interior, who is not a member of the NWC, to the submission of names of candidates for National Assembly elections is to question the integrity of the leaders of the party. Just how can the minister teleguide these distinguished leaders who are men of integrity?
“OBE, who is not a candidate in the said NASS elections, who never obtained nomination forms or contested in the said primaries, should allow those who actually did to talk.
“He should not be speculating and promoting division within Ondo APC with unfounded allegations.”
