The senatorial candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the Ondo Central District, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, on Wednesday, dismissed speculation that his recent political moves were the product of an alliance with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
Akinyelure, who stated this in Akure during a media parley, explained that he had no political understanding with Governor Aiyedatiwa or the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), maintaining that his decision to leave the party followed its refusal to give him the ticket to contest the 2027 senatorial election.
Akinyelure, who represented Ondo Central in the 7th and 8th National Assemblies, said his recent meeting with Aiyedatiwa was neither a political negotiation nor an attempt to secure the governor’s backing, stressing that the meeting was unrelated to any political alliance between them.
The Senator, who has since joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), said the clarification became necessary following speculations that his recent meeting with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa was an indication of a political alliance between them.
Akinyelure said Aiyedatiwa had been direct with him that the APC had already settled on its preferred candidate for the Ondo Central senatorial ticket and that he would not be given the opportunity to contest the primary.
He said rather than make false promises, the governor told him the situation as it was, a development he said he appreciated.
“The only thing I needed was to know whether the party would give me the ticket back to the Senate because I believe I am the most qualified person to represent Ondo Central.
“The governor told me they had already considered who they wanted to give the ticket to and that I could not get it.
“I thanked him for telling me the truth. If he wanted to deceive me, he would have promised support during the primary. At least, he was honest with me, so no political pact.”
The former lawmaker said the development left him with the choice of either abandoning his political ambition or seeking another platform, adding that his decision to join the ADC was driven by his desire to remain politically relevant and continue representing the interests of his constituents.
According to him, political relevance was necessary for him to continue attracting opportunities and contributing to the development of Ondo Central.
“It’s only when you stay there for long that you become very relevant to your constituents. I want to remain relevant and continue to serve my people.
“If a political party refuses to give you a ticket, you look for where your interest and the interest of your people will be protected.”
Akinyelure also sought to draw a distinction between his present political movement and his previous experience in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stressing that he remained with the party even after losing its primary election.
He said he rejected pressure from political associates to immediately defect after losing the primary, arguing that his decision was guided by what he described as political integrity.
“In my training, integrity is the highest calling. PDP gave me a mandate, and I completed that mandate before leaving,” he said.
Akinyelure said he resigned his PDP membership on May 30, 2023, with the resignation taking effect on June 12, after completing his four-year mandate.
He said the ADC subsequently approached him with an offer to join the party and contribute to its development, adding that his movement to the opposition platform became necessary after his exit from the APC.
“Before then, ADC came to me and said there was a seat for me and that they needed my political value to help build the party. Since APC gave me a red card, I had to move to where my interest and the interest of my people would be protected,” he said.
The former senator also rejected suggestions that his defection was necessarily tied to any emerging opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.
He said his immediate concern was securing a platform through which he could seek another mandate and provide what he described as effective representation to the people of Ondo Central.
According to him, voters should judge candidates based on their records and capacity to represent them rather than solely on party affiliation.
“Anybody in Ondo Central who believes I represented them well can vote for me irrespective of their political party. Whether APC, ADC, Labour Party or SDP, what matters is good representation,” he said.
Akinyelure also explained his meeting with Aiyedatiwa at the Government House Chapel, saying he used the occasion to urge the governor to protect the integrity of the electoral process in the state.
He said his message to the governor was that, as the state’s chief security officer, he should ensure that voters were allowed to freely determine who represented them at the federal and state levels.
“I told the governor, as the chief security officer of the state, to ensure that the votes of the people count in the North, Central and South Senatorial Districts. That was my message. I was not invited for any political arrangement,” he said.
The former senator further said he remained more interested in elective office than political appointments, arguing that elected officials were directly accountable to the electorate and enjoyed constitutionally defined tenure.
“If you are given a federal appointment today, you can be removed tomorrow. But when you are democratically elected, it is only death or constitutional processes that can remove you before the end of your tenure. That is why I prefer elective office,” he said.
Akinyelure said his ambition to return to the Senate was also motivated by what he described as unfinished legislative business from his previous tenure.
He said some bills and initiatives he started while in the National Assembly remained incomplete and that he hoped to revisit them if given another opportunity to serve.
“There are bills that I am supposed to conclude. That will be one of my priorities when I return to the Senate. I have unfinished work in the National Assembly and many things on my mind for the development of Ondo Central,” he said.
On the 2027 political contest, Akinyelure said his priority would remain the development of Ondo Central irrespective of the individual who eventually emerges as Nigeria’s president.
He maintained that his experience in government and political relationships at the national level would enable him to pursue federal projects and opportunities for the senatorial district.
“Whoever becomes president, I know how to navigate and get what belongs to Ondo Central. My concern is the welfare and development of my people,” Akinyelure said.