APC Leaders and Stakeholders Endorse MATO, Urge Governor Aiyedatiwa to Back His Ticket

Ondo South’s political atmosphere is charged with fresh momentum as leaders and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) across the district have formally endorsed Hon. Mathew Oye Oyerinmade, popularly known as MATO, as their preferred candidate for the 2027 senatorial election.

At consultative meetings held across Okitipupa, Ilaje, Ese‑Odo, Irele, Odigbo, and Ileoluji‑Okeigbo, party elders, ward representatives, and grassroots mobilisers declared their unanimous support for MATO. They urged Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa and other party leaders to give him the APC ticket, stressing that his candidacy offers the best chance of securing victory in the senatorial district before noon on election day.

Stakeholders recalled that MATO was runner‑up in the APC senatorial primary in 2022, a contest that gave him deeper insight into party dynamics and strengthened his grassroots connections. Rather than retreat, he consolidated his structures, expanded his reach, and built stronger relationships across all 66 wards of Ondo South.

His tours in recent months have drawn mammoth crowds, with supporters braving heavy downpours to welcome him. “That kind of loyalty cannot be manufactured,” one party elder remarked. “It is proof of his acceptability and the people’s readiness to stand with him.”

MATO’s agenda has further boosted his appeal. His Digital Innovation Programme is designed to equip youths with modern technological skills, while his Agro‑Cooperative and Micro‑Enterprise Empowerment Scheme aims to support farmers and traders. He has also pledged improved healthcare access, environmental protection, and infrastructure expansion in underserved communities.

Party stakeholders emphasised that effective representation at the federal level requires collaboration with the state government, and that MATO possesses the political experience and strategic outlook to bridge that gap. His loyalty to party ideals, cordial relationship with stakeholders, and ability to unify diverse interests make him the natural successor to Senator Jimoh Ibrahim.

As one APC stalwart put it: “We cannot afford to gamble with this seat. MATO is the stabilising force, the people’s compass, and the candidate who can deliver victory before 12 pm on election day.”

With endorsements pouring in from across Ondo South, the momentum is unmistakable. The drums of politics may be loud, but the rhythm of MATO’s credibility continues to endure.