ABEOKUTA – Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has moved to forestall internal friction within the All Progressives Congress (APC) by promising government appointments and nomination fee refunds to aspirants who agree to step down for consensus candidates.
During a strategic meeting in Abeokuta with House of Representatives and House of Assembly aspirants, the Governor emphasized that “consensus-building” and adherence to “local government zoning arrangements” are essential to maintaining party cohesion ahead of the forthcoming elections.
Addressing the gathered aspirants and party leaders from the state’s 20 local government areas, Abiodun noted that while the party is rich in qualified talent, the reality of the ballot requires a singular front.
“I am not a dictator and I have no intention of imposing candidates,” the Governor stated. “While many party members are qualified to contest, only one candidate can emerge for each position.”
The Governor warned that “contentious primaries” often lead to a cycle of “bitterness, financial strain, and internal divisions” that could jeopardize the party’s performance at the polls. To mitigate this, he proposed a framework where grassroots leaders assess and recommend candidates based on fairness and equity.
“Zoning arrangements across local governments would serve as a guiding framework to promote fairness, equity, and inclusion within the party,” he said, adding that local stakeholders are best positioned to decide who represents them.
In a move to ease the financial and political sting of stepping aside, Abiodun pledged that the party would refund nomination form fees to those who do not secure tickets. He further assured loyalists that their sacrifice would be recognized through future opportunities and state roles.
“Several aspirants who stepped down or aligned with party decisions have already been considered for government appointments,” he disclosed, characterizing the incentives as a strategy to “retain experienced members and discourage anti-party activities.”
The Governor, drawing from his own long-standing political career, urged those feeling frustrated to take a long-term view of their ambitions.
“I started contesting in 1993 and only became governor in 2019. If you don’t get it today, you may get it tomorrow,” Abiodun remarked. He maintained that these measures were “not meant to induce loyalty but to appreciate commitment and strengthen internal cohesion.”
The initiative received strong backing from party elders in attendance, including Kola Ogunjobi, Olu Agemo, Adekunle Adesina, Gbenga Kaka, and Iyabo Apampa, who described the strategy as a “pragmatic approach” to managing the competing interests of a dominant ruling party.
