PDP Accuses Governor Aiyedatiwa of Abandoning Akeredolu’s Projects, APC Fights Back

The political atmosphere in Ondo State has grown more charged following strong allegations from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa. The PDP accused the governor of deliberately abandoning the uncompleted projects of his late predecessor, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, allegedly in a bid to erase his legacy.

In a statement released on Sunday by its Director of Media and Publicity, Mr. Leye Igbabo, the PDP expressed deep concern over what it termed Governor Aiyedatiwa’s unwillingness to continue projects initiated under Akeredolu’s administration. The party described this stance as politically motivated, aimed at discrediting the late governor and punishing his political loyalists.

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“The available facts showed that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa was not ready to go on with the projects because of his clear intention to destroy his predecessor’s legacy on the altar of political vendetta,” the PDP stated. The party also alleged that Aiyedatiwa had reportedly boasted of his executive power to halt any project that did not align with his preferences and insisted that those who benefitted financially from such projects should finance their completion.

The late Governor Akeredolu, who passed away on December 27, 2023, left behind several infrastructural developments. His death followed a protracted illness that saw considerable political tension and division within the state’s leadership.

Governor Aiyedatiwa, who served as Akeredolu’s deputy, assumed leadership after his passing and later emerged victorious in the November 16, 2024, governorship election. The PDP maintains that this political transition has resulted in the current administration sidelining key initiatives that Akeredolu had begun, which, according to the opposition, signals a broader effort to suppress his influence posthumously.

Political Legacy and the Clash Over Uncompleted Projects

The All Progressives Congress (APC), however, has sharply rejected the PDP’s claims, calling them baseless and driven by desperation. In a counter-statement, APC’s Director of Media and Publicity in Ondo State, Mr. Steve Otaloro, accused the PDP of spreading misinformation to regain political relevance after its electoral defeat.

“It is apparent that the PDP is resorting to a desperate attempt to regain relevance by fabricating claims that lack any basis in fact,” Otaloro said. He emphasized that Governor Aiyedatiwa had been committed to continuing all vital projects initiated during Akeredolu’s administration, particularly those with significant public value.

He cited the ongoing work on key road projects, such as the Oda Road in Akure, as proof that the current administration respects and upholds the continuity of governance. “Governor Aiyedatiwa views the past administration as an extension of his own, as he served as deputy governor during that time,” Otaloro noted, branding PDP’s claims as “nonsensical.”

He further accused the PDP of conducting a disinformation campaign, one allegedly fueled by their failure to overturn Aiyedatiwa’s election victory in court. According to the APC, the PDP’s internal crisis and a wave of defections, including by sitting governors, have left the party grasping for public sympathy through political attacks.

“This is nothing but a reflection of the PDP’s own internal struggles and declining relevance,” the APC said, advising the opposition to focus on rebuilding rather than fabricating stories to sway public opinion.

Analysts view this heated exchange as indicative of deeper tensions surrounding political legacy in Ondo State. While the PDP portrays the current administration as intent on dismantling Akeredolu’s imprint, the APC insists that their governor is preserving continuity while forging his own path.

The real test of these claims will be the pace and visibility of project completions in the coming months. Public perception will ultimately hinge on whether key infrastructure developments and social investments tied to the late governor are carried forward or left in limbo.

As the political dust settles from last year’s election, Ondo residents are watching closely to see if the government lives up to its promise of continuity or if partisan politics will overshadow governance.