Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Arogbo-Ijaw axis of Ese-Odo Local Government Area, Ondo State, have strongly opposed the senatorial ambition of the party’s South-West Zonal Chairman, Isaacs Kekemeke, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party chieftains described his bid to represent Ondo South Senatorial District as unlawful and politically insensitive, citing alleged violations of the Electoral Act and party guidelines.
In a letter dated April 27 and addressed to the APC National Chairman, the leaders—drawn from Agadagba-Obon—acknowledged Kekemeke’s constitutional right to contest but questioned the legality of his declaration under the current circumstances.
The letter, jointly signed by Tamara Ebiye Johnson and Pere Ebiere Isaac, accused Kekemeke of failing to resign from his positions as Chairman of the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) and APC South-West Zonal Chairman before declaring his ambition. They argued that this contravenes Sections 84 and 88 of the Electoral Act, which mandate political appointees to step down before participating in party primaries.
According to the group, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled party primaries between April 23 and May 30, with a federal directive requiring all political appointees seeking elective office to resign on or before March 31. They alleged that Kekemeke has not complied with this directive, describing his continued participation as a “flagrant disregard for the law.”
The leaders further stressed that party rules require aspirants who are party officials to provide proof of resignation and acknowledgment before being cleared for nomination processes. They warned that allowing Kekemeke to proceed without meeting these conditions could undermine internal party democracy.
Beyond legal concerns, the group raised issues of political imbalance, noting that Kekemeke hails from the same local government area as Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and Nigeria’s Ambassador to Russia, Sola Iji. They cautioned that concentrating key political positions within one axis could marginalize other parts of the senatorial district.
They also referenced recent political developments, including the incomplete tenure of the district’s last senator, Jimoh Ibrahim, following his diplomatic appointment, as a factor that heightens the need for fairness and stability in representation.
The APC leaders called on the party’s national leadership to enforce compliance with both the Electoral Act and internal regulations, warning that failure to act could expose the party to legal challenges.
They insisted that Kekemeke must publicly present evidence of resignation from both his NIPOST role and party position before continuing his senatorial bid.
Efforts to reach Kekemeke for comment were unsuccessful, as calls to his official line did not connect as of the time of filing this report.