The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has accused Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of failing to address the suffering of residents, while the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed the claims as “spurious and politically motivated.”
Speaking on positive FM in Akure as monitored by Roving Reporters, the PDP chairman, Barrister Dupe Aisida, said people across the state were groaning under poor governance.
He described the Aiyedatiwa administration as “cosmetic,” alleging that infrastructure was decaying, the state capital had “never been this dirty,” and resources were being channelled into projects that failed to reflect the needs of ordinary citizens.
Aisida faulted government’s decision to build new apartments for political office holders while citizens struggled with soaring rents and housing shortages.
He also raised concerns over alleged irregularities in the recent teacher recruitment exercise, citing reports of fake appointment letters and extortion of applicants. “Government must sit up. The people are suffering and they need solutions, not window dressing,” he said.
But in a swift response, the APC described the allegations as false and misleading.
In an interview with Roving Reporters, its Director of Media and Publicity, Steve Otaloro, the party said the governor had introduced targeted palliatives, farmer empowerment schemes, and market-stabilisation interventions to cushion economic hardship.
The APC argued that projects in health, education, agriculture, security, and road infrastructure were ongoing across the state, dismissing the PDP’s description of “cosmetic governance” as a baseless attempt to discredit real progress.
“Clinics are being rehabilitated, schools supported, and contractors are at work on bona fide projects across the state. These are measurable, verifiable investments, not cosmetics,” the statement read.
On allegations of neglect in Akure, the APC said sanitation and road rehabilitation were actively ongoing and invited the opposition to provide verifiable instances of neglect for immediate action.
It also defended the provision of official accommodation for public officers as a cost-saving measure, while reiterating its commitment to affordable housing schemes for citizens.
Responding to the teacher recruitment controversy, the APC said while the exercise was a positive step that had been widely welcomed, unsubstantiated claims of fake letters and extortion were “irresponsible.”
The party assured that a verification mechanism was in place and pledged to investigate any credible reports of malpractice.
While the PDP vowed to provide “constructive but firm opposition” to hold the government accountable, the APC insisted it would remain focused on “transparent, results-driven governance for the benefit of all citizens.”
