Two Years in Office: PDP Demands Accountability, APC Backs Aiyedatiw

_PDP alleges failed governance and demands accountability; APC insists Aiyedatiwa focused on people-centred leadership

A fresh political storm is brewing in Ondo State as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) traded sharp words on Monday over Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa’s ongoing statewide thank-you tour.

The PDP had earlier criticised the tour, describing it as ill-timed and insensitive, and demanded that the governor account for what it called two years of failed governance. However, the APC swiftly fired back, dismissing the claims as political grandstanding and insisting that the administration remains focused on inclusive, people-centred governance.

In a statement issued by its Director of Media and Public Communications, Mr Wándé T. Àjàyí, the PDP argued that Governor Aiyedatiwa should be embarking on a statewide commissioning of completed projects rather than community visits allegedly characterised by token handouts.

The opposition party described the reported distribution of ₦10,000 to residents during the tour as “an affront to the dignity of Ondo people,” insisting that citizens deserved tangible development outcomes instead of what it termed “charity politics.”

“The people of Ondo State are not beggars. After two full years in office, the governor must give a clear account of the billions of naira accruing to the state from federal allocations, internally generated revenue and intervention funds,” the PDP said.

The party further alleged widespread infrastructural decay, claiming that public schools were collapsing, healthcare facilities dilapidated, and roads unsafe, while civil servants and pensioners continued to face economic hardship. It also claimed that several projects announced by the state government were stalled, adding that none had reached 20 percent completion.

“Beyond press statements announcing flag-offs, contractors are absent from sites, and governance has been reduced to propaganda and public relations,” the PDP alleged.

Reacting the APC, in a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Mr Steve Otaloro rejected the allegations, describing them as misleading and politically motivated.

According to the ruling party, the thank-you tour is a long-established democratic practice designed to enable elected leaders to engage directly with the people, assess ongoing projects, and appreciate public support.

“The tour is neither a charity exercise nor a substitute for governance. It is an avenue for direct interaction with citizens, listening to their concerns and strengthening inclusive leadership,” the APC said.

The party explained that any modest support extended to vulnerable residents during the tour should be seen within the context of social intervention, especially in view of prevailing national economic challenges.

On project execution and accountability, the APC insisted that the Aiyedatiwa administration had nothing to hide, noting that projects across education, healthcare, road infrastructure, agriculture, and urban renewal were at various stages of completion.

It described the PDP’s claim that projects were below 20 per cent completion as “false and misleading,” adding that the administration had prioritised continuity, fiscal prudence and the orderly execution of inherited and new projects.

The APC also accused the PDP of hypocrisy, arguing that the opposition’s sudden concern for civil servants, pensioners and infrastructure contrasted sharply with what it described as a legacy of abandoned projects and unpaid entitlements during PDP’s years in power.

While acknowledging socio-economic challenges, the ruling party attributed many of them to national and global economic pressures, which it said the current administration was managing with “restraint and responsibility.”

As the political exchanges continue, both parties maintained firm positions, with the PDP insisting that Ondo people deserved accountability and results-driven governance, and the APC assuring residents that Governor Aiyedatiwa remains committed to development, engagement and measurable progress across the state