The All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary in Ondo North Senatorial District has been rejected by an aspirant, Mr Alex Ajipe, who has called for a fresh exercise, alleging widespread irregularities in the conduct of the election.
The official results of the primary, announced by the National Assembly Primary Election Committee chairman, Iboroma Harry Dabiri, showed that former House of Representatives member, Gbenga Elegbeleye, won the contest with 28,062 votes. Incumbent Senator Olajide Ipinsagba polled 9,819 votes, while Ajipe secured 17,313 votes. Other candidates included Adeogun Adejoro with 3,845 votes, Tunji Muhammed with 1,076 votes, and Michael Adeyanju with 640 votes.
However, Ajipe faulted the process, alleging that elections were not properly conducted in four out of the six local government areas in the district. He described the exercise as flawed, accusing officials of abandoning electoral duties during collation.
He claimed that in several local governments, party members were made to write results on plain sheets of paper, which were later not officially recorded, while some electoral officers allegedly disappeared before proper collation could take place.
According to him, what transpired amounted to “allocation of votes” rather than a genuine election, adding that the process was hijacked and manipulated by political actors.
Ajipe further alleged that there was no proper accreditation, voting, or collation in some areas, insisting that the outcome did not reflect the will of party members.
He has since petitioned the party’s appeal committee, urging the APC national leadership to investigate the exercise and conduct a rerun of the primary in the senatorial district.
The controversy adds to growing tensions surrounding APC primaries in Ondo State, where reports of disruptions and disagreements over results have also emerged.
