A group named Ondo APC Mandate Group has petitioned the All Progressive Congress national secretariat over what it described as the Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo’s neglect of the grassroot and violence against party members,perceives it portends a smear for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second term bid.
In a petition jointly signed by the group Convener Alhaji Ariwoola Abdukareem and the Secretary Comrade Gbenga Bojuwomi and four other exco members, dated 17th of Sept, 2025 and submitted to the party’s headquarters in Abuja, the group alleged that Tunji-Ojo masterminded violent attack on party members during the last local government election in the state.
The petition titled: “Call for Accountability and Reflection on the Conduct of Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo”, which was addressed to the national chairman of the party, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, cited the need for the party’s leadership to call the Minister to order for violent attack, neglect and total disregard for his grassroot supporters who were instrumental to his emergence and rising political profile.
“We, the undersigned stakeholders and concerned citizens of Akoko Land in Ondo State, wish to express our deep concern regarding the conduct and political disposition of Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Interior and former Member of the House of Representatives.”Hon. Tunji-Ojo, appears to attribute his political success solely to personal merit, disregarding the collective efforts and sacrifices of many political actors from Akoko Land and Ondo State, the APC mandate group in particular.
“The group further alleged that Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has paid their selfless gesture with attack, arrogance and dismissiveness, as he portray his political rise and victory as a personal triumph rather than a collective achievement.
“Similar trait was displayed during the recent local government elections in Ondo State, when the Minister allegedly orchestrated acts of violence against party members solely on the ground that his preferred aspirant did not emerge at the primaries. Notably, Hon. Oluwatoye Ajiboye, the APC councillorship candidate in Ward 5 of Akoko northwest, was reportedly assaulted by the men of Nigeria Civil Defense Corps and another party leader detained for days by the Police under the ministers’ instruction”, the petition read.The APC group maintained that the minister’s actions raise serious concern about his commitment to democratic values and party unity as his behavior suggests a troubling disconnect from the people he claims to represent.
”We therefore, call on the APC leadership under Prof. Yelwata, the Presidency and the concerned security agencies to take a closer look at the minister’s activities and their implications on security, party’s image and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term aspirations”.
