The Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of using the Amotekun Corps for political optics rather than addressing the pressing welfare issues affecting its operatives.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the party’s Director of Media and Publicity, Wande Ajayi, criticised the governor’s recent endorsement of the Amotekun leadership and his approval of 500 new recruits, describing it as “appalling” given the unresolved grievances of current personnel.
According to Ajayi, existing operatives have been battling unpaid salaries, lack of appointment letters, stagnated promotions, poor welfare support, and the absence of formal employment status since their recruitment in 2020.
He noted that a petition filed on behalf of aggrieved officers by human rights lawyer Tope Temokun detailed several complaints, including arbitrary redeployments and the government’s alleged refusal to regularise their appointments.
Ajayi argued that true security reform begins with fairness and transparency, adding that “welfare must come before expansion” if the administration is genuinely committed to strengthening the state’s security architecture.
He said, “While the Corps Commander enjoys full statutory recognition, hundreds of operatives who risk their lives daily are treated as casual hands without documentation or job security. This approach is irresponsible and exploitative.”
But in a swift response, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) dismissed the PDP’s claims as an attempt to politicise security matters. The party insisted that Governor Aiyedatiwa’s support for Amotekun’s leadership is based on merit and operational results.
The APC maintained that ongoing welfare issues are already being handled “systematically and transparently,” arguing that additional recruitment is necessary to strengthen security amid rising threats.
“If the PDP believes boosting security with more personnel is a lapse, it only shows a poor grasp of Nigeria’s present realities,” the party said.
The clash highlights renewed tension between both parties as the state intensifies efforts to enhance community security through the Amotekun Corps.
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