The Ondo State representative on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Hon. Otito Atikase, has called on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to accept the outcome of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Assembly primary election and discourage any protest against the decision of the party’s national leadership.
In a statement issued on Wednesday and titled “Political Loyalty: A Test of Character and Party Discipline,” Atikase said genuine loyalty to a political party is demonstrated by how members respond to unfavourable decisions rather than favourable ones.
He stressed that politicians should be prepared for both victory and defeat, noting that resilience and the ability to adapt are essential qualities for political survival.
“When you anticipate success, you should also anticipate failure. Doing so equips you with the ability to manage both success and disappointment. Ultimately, this enables you to adapt to changing realities,” he said.
Reflecting on his political journey, Atikase recalled that while he was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he studied the party’s internal processes and successfully contested several primary elections without losing any.
He, however, alleged that since joining the APC, candidates have largely been determined by the party leadership rather than through competitive primaries.
According to him, Governor Aiyedatiwa and APC chieftain Gbenga Edema opposed his ambition to contest for the chairmanship of his local government council, leading to the emergence of Goke Jatuwase as the party’s candidate without a primary election.
“I accepted the outcome in good faith. In fact, I was the only aspirant who neither protested nor took the party to court,” he said.
Atikase further alleged that the governor single-handedly determined the composition of APC executives at the state, local government and ward levels during the party’s congresses in Ondo State.
He claimed that despite being a federal appointee from Mahin Ward 3, he was not consulted in the constitution of the ward executive but still worked to reconcile aggrieved members in the interest of party unity.
The NDDC commissioner also attributed the APC’s poor performance in the recent senatorial by-election to what he described as political exclusion and the concentration of election logistics in the hands of one political group.
He said he was equally excluded from the process that produced the APC candidate for the Ilaje Constituency II House of Assembly election but nevertheless mobilised support for the party’s candidate.
On the National Assembly primary election, Atikase urged all party members to accept the outcome, saying the APC’s national leadership had taken a definitive position on the exercise.
“It is expected that all of us should accept that decision in good faith, just as we have consistently accepted decisions taken at the state level,” he said.
He argued that the development presents a test of Governor Aiyedatiwa’s commitment to the party, urging him to place the APC above personal or sectional interests.
“The governor’s political loyalty is now being tested. This is the moment for him to demonstrate that his loyalty is to the party above personal or sectional interests,” Atikase stated.
He also criticised the alleged protests by some political appointees over the primary outcome, warning that such actions undermine party discipline and collective leadership.
“Allowing his appointees to stage futile protests against the party’s decision does not strengthen his position; rather, it raises questions about his commitment to party discipline and collective leadership. They are doing him no favours,” he said.
Atikase maintained that political loyalty requires party members to respect and abide by decisions taken by the leadership, even when such decisions do not favour their personal interests.
