Ondo PDP Accuses Aiyedatiwa Of Using Blackmail Claims To Silence Critics

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has accused Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s administration of using allegations of blackmail and cyber extortion as a cover to avoid public accountability and stifle criticism.

In a statement issued on Sunday by its Director of Media and Public Communications, Wándé T. Àjàyí, the opposition party described the government’s recent comments on blackmail as a weak attempt to divert attention from governance failures.

The statement followed remarks by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku, who had accused certain individuals of targeting the state government with false reports and cyberattacks.

The PDP said the commissioner’s outburst was an effort to make the administration appear as a victim, despite mounting criticism from residents and civil groups over poor service delivery and rising economic hardship in the state.

According to the party, the real problem lies within the government itself, which it accused of corruption, waste, and insincerity. It said those running the state had turned governance into “a stage for deceit and self-promotion” while neglecting pressing issues affecting citizens.

The PDP challenged the government to publish details of all contracts, payment records, and the actual state of the 2025 budget implementation. It accused the Aiyedatiwa administration of mismanaging resources while failing to address crumbling infrastructure, poor healthcare services, and ongoing crises in the education sector.

Citing examples, the party mentioned the prolonged strike at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, and the growing neglect of Ondo South, which it said has been largely cut off from other parts of the state.

The PDP further alleged that the government was using the Cybercrime Act as a tool to intimidate and silence voices of dissent. It warned that such tactics would fail, insisting that Ondo residents are now more aware and determined to demand transparency.

The party urged Governor Aiyedatiwa to focus on governance rather than what it called propaganda battles. It said the governor was elected to serve, not to trade insults with critics, adding that true leadership is measured by accountability, not rhetoric.

It concluded that the PDP would continue to expose alleged corruption and mismanagement in the state, insisting that the Aiyedatiwa administration had failed to demonstrate integrity or competence in addressing Ondo’s growing challenges.