Political tensions within the Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) may affect some of the party’s National Assembly candidates ahead of the 2027 elections, following the Supreme Court’s restoration of key provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
A party chieftain who spoke anonymously claimed that some supporters of Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa are considering supporting candidates of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) against selected APC candidates in the National Assembly elections.
The reported position emerged after the Supreme Court, on September 24, 2026, unanimously restored Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026.
At a Glance
- The Supreme Court restored four disputed provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 on September 24, 2026.
- The provisions concern political party membership registers and candidate nomination.
- The judgment followed an appeal by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
- An anonymous Ondo APC chieftain said some Aiyedatiwa supporters were unhappy with the judgment.
- The source claimed some supporters were considering backing ADC candidates against selected APC National Assembly candidates.
- INEC is expected to state its position on the judgment and related issues concerning the 2027 elections.
The Timeline Behind the Political Dispute
The latest dispute is linked to the timing of political parties’ submission of membership registers and the implications of the Supreme Court judgment for candidate nominations.
According to the anonymous party chieftain, INEC’s deadline for political parties to submit their membership registers was May 10.
The source further claimed that, as of May 30, several candidates sponsored by the APC were still members of the party.
The Supreme Court judgment came on September 24, when the apex court restored Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026.
INEC is also expected to announce its position on the judgment and other matters concerning the 2027 general elections at a press conference on Tuesday, according to the supplied report.
What Happened?
The Supreme Court restored the disputed provisions after an appeal filed by INEC against an earlier Court of Appeal judgment that had nullified them.
The apex court held that the provisions were not inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution.
The restored provisions principally relate to political parties’ membership registers and the nomination of candidates for elections.
The development has now become a political issue in Ondo State, with an anonymous party chieftain claiming that some supporters of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa are considering an alternative strategy for the 2027 National Assembly elections.
According to the source, the concern centres on whether some APC-sponsored candidates could be affected if INEC enforces the Supreme Court judgment in relation to membership-register requirements.
The chieftain said:
“You know that INEC’s deadline for the submission of membership registers by all political parties was May 10. As of May 30, many of these sponsored candidates were still in the APC.”
The source added that the affected candidates could face consequences if INEC insists on applying the judgment.
The Electoral Act Judgment and the Political Dispute
The legal dispute predates the latest political reaction.
The Supreme Court ruling followed an earlier Court of Appeal decision that had nullified the disputed provisions. INEC subsequently appealed that decision, leading to the apex court’s judgment.
The Supreme Court ultimately held that Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) were not inconsistent with the Constitution.
For the political actors mentioned in the report, the significance of the judgment lies in how the restored provisions could affect party membership records and the nomination of candidates.
The anonymous Ondo APC chieftain argued that some candidates could be affected because of the timing of their membership status in relation to the submission of party registers.
The source said this was one reason some supporters of Aiyedatiwa were dissatisfied with the judgment.
Stakeholder Positions
The only detailed political position contained in the supplied report comes from the unnamed Ondo APC chieftain.
The source claimed that some members of the governor’s camp had decided to oppose certain APC National Assembly candidates.
He said:
“One of the options on our table is to support the ADC candidates for the National Assembly since we have already made up their minds to work against some APC National Assembly candidates for obvious reasons.”
The report does not provide a response from Governor Aiyedatiwa, the affected APC candidates, the ADC or INEC addressing the allegations.
It is therefore important to distinguish the reported position of the anonymous source from an officially announced political decision.
Current Situation
The immediate issue now depends partly on how INEC responds to the Supreme Court judgment.
The electoral commission is preparing to release an updated list of candidates for the 2027 general elections, according to the supplied report, and is expected to clarify its position on the judgment.
That process could provide further information about how the restored provisions will be applied to political parties and their candidates.
At the political level, the reported plan by some Aiyedatiwa supporters remains a developing issue. The source has described a possible move to support ADC candidates while opposing selected APC National Assembly candidates, but the report does not establish that a formal agreement with the ADC has been reached.
Editorial Analysis: Why the Ondo APC Dispute Matters
The significance of the development is not limited to the Supreme Court judgment itself.
The case illustrates how changes involving party membership records and candidate nominations can have consequences beyond legal proceedings and become part of wider political calculations ahead of an election.
For the APC in Ondo State, the reported disagreement could become relevant if members of the party’s support base decide to withhold support from particular candidates.
If the reported strategy is implemented, backing ADC candidates could introduce an additional political variable into selected National Assembly contests.
However, the supplied report does not provide enough information to determine how widespread the disagreement is, which candidates are affected or whether the reported strategy will ultimately be implemented.
Those details will be important in assessing the actual electoral significance of the dispute.
Political Implications for the 2027 Elections
The development could have implications for the internal dynamics of the APC as preparations for the 2027 elections continue.
At the party level, disagreement over individual National Assembly candidates could create competing interests within the same political structure.
At the constituency level, any decision by influential party supporters to back candidates from another party could potentially affect the political contest.
For the ADC, the reported development could provide an opportunity to attract support from voters or political actors who are dissatisfied with particular APC candidates.
However, these remain potential consequences rather than established electoral outcomes.
The available report does not provide evidence showing how many supporters are involved, which constituencies are concerned or whether the ADC has been approached formally.
What Happens Next?
The next significant development is expected from INEC, which is due to clarify its position on the Supreme Court judgment and other issues surrounding the 2027 elections.
The commission’s handling of the membership-register and candidate-list questions will help determine the practical effect of the restored Electoral Act provisions.
Political reactions may also become clearer as the process progresses.
For the reported Aiyedatiwa supporters, the key question is whether the stated intention to oppose some APC National Assembly candidates will translate into actual support for ADC candidates during the 2027 electoral contest.
Final Editorial Wrap-Up
The Supreme Court’s restoration of key provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 has become linked to a developing political dispute within Ondo APC.
An anonymous party chieftain has claimed that some supporters of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa are prepared to work against selected APC National Assembly candidates and may support ADC candidates instead.
For now, that position remains a claim attributed to an unnamed source. The response from INEC, the affected candidates and other political stakeholders, together with the commission’s handling of the candidate list, will provide further clarity on how the issue develops ahead of the 2027 elections.
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