Six serving members of the House of Representatives from Ondo State have failed to secure the All Progressives Congress tickets to return to the National Assembly following the party’s primary election held across the state.
Results announced in the early hours of Monday by the Chairman of the APC National Assembly Primary Election Committee for Ondo State, Hon. Iboroma Harry Dabibi, showed that only three incumbent lawmakers clinched tickets for the 2027 general elections.
Among the notable victories was that of Ifeoluwa Ehindero, who recorded a landslide win in the Akoko North-East/Akoko North-West Federal Constituency primary.
Ehindero polled 22,304 votes to defeat Ibrahim Moruf Tosin, who secured 330 votes, and Oseni Oyeniyi, who garnered 118 votes.
In Ondo East/Ondo West Federal Constituency, the incumbent lawmaker, Dr Abiola Peter Makinde, retained his ticket after polling 10,847 votes ahead of Ade Adeniyi, who scored 2,045 votes, and Bola Fisayo, who secured 1,551 votes.
Similarly, Dr Olumuyiwa Daramola emerged winner of the Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency primary with 6,547 votes, defeating Prince Jimi Odimayo, who polled 827 votes, and Dele Omosehin, who scored 623 votes.
In Akure North/Akure South Federal Constituency, Hon. Omowunmi Olatunji Ohwovoriole emerged victorious after securing 9,237 votes in a keenly contested race involving 10 aspirants.
Hon. Dennis Fadairo came second with 2,120 votes, while Hon. Bamidele Ologunloluwa polled 549 votes.
The primaries, however, witnessed controversy in some constituencies after the committee invalidated votes recorded by aspirants said not to have been cleared by the party’s screening committee.
In Akoko South-East/Akoko South-West Federal Constituency, Dr Olusegun Victor Ategbole scored 12,011 votes but was disqualified, leading to the declaration of Hon. Adefarati Gboyega, who polled 1,865 valid votes, as winner.
A similar development occurred in Owo/Ose Federal Constituency, where the votes cast for Hon. Ayodeji Arowele Samuel were voided over alleged failure to obtain clearance from the screening committee.
Although Arowele polled 9,690 votes, Engr. Kayode Ijalana, who secured 7,098 valid votes, was eventually declared winner.
In Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency, the committee also invalidated the 5,463 votes scored by Hon. Tajudeen Adefisoye Adeyemi, paving the way for Rasaq Obe, who polled 4,988 votes, to emerge as the party’s candidate.
Other candidates produced through the exercise included Hon. Matthew Oyerimade, who won the Odigbo/Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo Federal Constituency ticket with 12,744 votes, and Akingboye Akinleke David, who emerged victorious in Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency after polling 9,284 votes.
Speaking after the exercise, Dabibi commended party leaders and members for the peaceful conduct of the primaries, describing the process as a reflection of the APC’s commitment to internal democracy.
He urged aggrieved aspirants and their supporters to put the contest behind them and unite ahead of the 2027 general elections.
