The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken aim at Abdullahi Ganduje, chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), following his bold assertion during a recent stakeholders’ meeting in Akure, the capital of Ondo State, where he claimed the APC is poised to “capture” all six states in the South-West region.
With the Ondo governorship election set for November 16, Ganduje’s comments come at a critical time. The APC currently governs four states in the region—Ekiti, Ondo, Lagos, and Ogun—while the PDP holds two: Oyo and Osun.
“In this geopolitical zone, we must deliver 100 percent for the APC. For Ondo State, you must lead the charge. We will also take Oyo and Osun,” Ganduje stated, adding, “However, I won’t disclose our strategies. Our support for President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will be unwavering.”
In response, PDP spokesperson Debo Ologunagba addressed reporters in Abuja on Monday, condemning Ganduje’s remarks as a threat to democracy.
“What Ganduje implied is that the APC intends to seize control of Ondo and, by extension, the entire South-West. This is both reckless and alarming,” Ologunagba asserted.
He elucidated further, stating, “The term ‘capture’ connotes forceful control and subjugation. We will not allow ourselves to be enslaved in our own homeland.”
He emphasized that the South-West has historically been a stronghold for opposition and democratic values, expressing concern over Ganduje’s threatening tone in Ondo State.
Ologunagba cited historical instances of political unrest, recalling the turmoil that disrupted the first republic and the attempts by the then-ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN) to impose Akin Omoboriowo as governor in Ondo in 1983. He warned that such patterns seem poised to repeat.
PDP has firmly stated that any efforts by the APC to impose its will on the people of Ondo will be met with strong resistance.
