Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has rejected claims that he is supporting an opposition candidate against the All Progressives Congress nominee for the Ondo South senatorial election.
Political speculation in the state had suggested that the governor shifted support from APC candidate Isaac Kekemeke to Mathew Oyerinmade, who has been linked with the Peoples Democratic Party.
Kekemeke, a former South West Vice Chairman of the APC, emerged as the party’s candidate after the National Working Committee reviewed senatorial primary outcomes.
Oyerinmade had earlier sought an APC House of Representatives ticket but lost the primary and later challenged the result in court.
Political sources subsequently alleged that he was preparing to contest the Senate seat on the PDP platform with the governor’s backing.
Those claims were not independently established.
Aiyedatiwa, through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Engagement, Steve Otaloro, said the allegation was false.
The governor’s aide said Aiyedatiwa remained committed to the APC and its candidates and would not support a rival party against the organisation he leads in Ondo State.
Otaloro also said the governor had not authorised anyone to speak on his behalf in support of an opposition candidate.
The controversy reflects tensions created by party primaries and political realignments ahead of the 2027 election.
With several aspirants dissatisfied after internal contests, attention is increasingly focused on whether party leaders will fully support candidates who emerged from the process.
Aiyedatiwa’s office said there should be no doubt about where the governor’s political loyalty lies.
