A brewing crisis within the Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has intensified following demands from a group of youths for the removal of the party’s chairman, Ade Adetimehin. The agitated youths stormed the party’s secretariat and left behind a coffin marked “Adetimehin Must Go,” along with a dead dog, in protest of the chairman’s leadership.
The youths, who also wrapped palm fronds around the secretariat’s gate, accused Adetimehin of advocating for a military takeover in Nigeria, an allegation that has fueled widespread anger within the party. Security forces were quickly deployed to the premises, situated along the Road Block and FUTA axis, to maintain order.

Babalayo Olutayo, the APC’s pioneer State Youth Leader, voiced his support for the protests, demanding that Adetimehin step down due to several alleged offenses. According to Olutayo, disgruntled youths from across the state had sealed off the secretariat with various fetish objects, symbolizing their discontent with the chairman’s leadership.

Olutayo elaborated on the grievances, which included allegations that Adetimehin had doctored the list of candidates for the recently concluded governorship election and the upcoming local government elections. He further criticized the chairman for running the party in isolation, with key positions such as youth leader, women leader, and party secretary vacant.

“We believe that if Adetimehin’s tenure ends next year, he should leave the party in a better state than he found it,” Olutayo remarked.

In response to the escalating tension, Steve Otaloro, the State Director of Media and Publicity for the APC, condemned the actions of the protesting youths. He emphasized that the security agencies had secured the secretariat and urged the aggrieved members to remain calm and avoid taking the law into their own hands.

“Governance is continuous, and everyone will be addressed. We urge members to be mindful of the law. What they are doing is illegal, and we will continue to appeal for peace,” Otaloro said, as the party began consultations to resolve the situation.