Senator Jimoh IbrahimThe internal fabric of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State is showing signs of strain as Senior High Chief Bibopere Ajube, a respected leader in the riverine communities and former Niger Delta agitator, openly declared his readiness to bankroll opposition candidates against sitting APC lawmakers in 2027.
Ajube’s outburst, delivered during a strategic meeting with party leaders at Agadagba-Obon in Ese-Odo Local Government Area, marks a significant escalation in grassroots discontent over speculated plans by the APC hierarchy to hand automatic return tickets to selected National Assembly members.
Flanked by supporters, Ajube distributed cash gifts of ₦50,000 each to 87 APC members across the 10 wards of Ese-Odo, using the occasion to issue a fiery denunciation of what he described as “Abuja-imposed tickets.”
“Let those who want to represent us go to the field and contest. No one should be imposed on the people again,” he stated, warning that he would mobilize and fund rival candidates under platforms such as the Labour Party (LP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), or any other viable option.
Without mincing words, he singled out Senator Jimoh Ibrahim and Hon. Donald Ojogo as targets of his planned political resistance, should the APC endorse their return bids unopposed.
Ajube said: “If the APC dares to issue automatic tickets to the current representatives, I will sponsor credible alternatives—even in smaller parties—to ensure the people’s voice is heard. We must break the cycle of entitlement.”
The declaration is the latest in a string of warnings from APC insiders nationwide who are pushing back against what many perceive as creeping authoritarianism and the erosion of internal party democracy.
Observers say Ajube’s statement is not just a local threat but a symptom of wider disaffection that may unsettle the party’s cohesion ahead of the 2027 polls.
Party members at the meeting praised Ajube for his consistency, philanthropy, and fearless advocacy for inclusion, while urging the APC to reconsider any undemocratic maneuvers that could alienate its grassroots base.
As the 2027 elections draw closer, the ruling party may need to navigate a delicate balancing act between loyalty to incumbents and the democratic aspirations of its broader membership.