The Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has warned its members against engaging in anti-party activities ahead of the forthcoming general elections.
The party also rejected any arrangement under which the Rainbow Coalition would support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu while fielding candidates against APC candidates for other elective positions.
The State APC, in a statement issued on Sunday by its Secretary, Alex Kalejaye, said support for all candidates of the ruling party must be total.
According to the party, it is committed to mobilising votes for President Tinubu, the three senatorial candidates, nine House of Representatives candidates and 26 House of Assembly candidates fielded by the APC in Ondo State.
The party described the support as “not negotiable”, stressing that its focus was to secure victory for all candidates of the ruling party.
The statement said, “The State chapter strongly believes that all candidates of the APC should be fully supported during the exercise, adding that anything on the contrary is not acceptable.”
The APC also stated that it had no agreement with members who had defected from the party to contest elections on other political platforms.
The party said it would neither condone nor spare members found engaging in anti-party activities, warning that associating with other political parties or candidates outside the APC would attract sanctions.
“We have stated in clear terms that the chapter will neither condone nor spare members who indulge in any form of anti-party activities,” Kalejaye said.
“The State secretariat views romancing with other political parties, or candidates on other platforms as a clear case of affront to our collective success. Anyone caught indulging in such activities would be appropriately sanctioned.”
The party urged its members to prioritise unity and cohesion, rather than actions capable of creating divisions within its ranks.
It said the party was targeting a minimum of one million votes in the state and called on members to support efforts towards achieving the target.
The APC further expressed concern that a coalition that supports the President on one platform while backing other candidates on another could create confusion and electoral challenges on election day.
“It is expedient to emphasise that a coalition which supports only the President on a platform, and other candidates on another, would lead to confusion and electoral crisis, even on the day of election,” the statement added.