Six serving members of the House of Representatives from Ondo State failed to secure return tickets as the All Progressives Congress concluded its National Assembly primary elections ahead of the 2027 general polls.
Results released in the early hours of Monday by the Chairman of the National Assembly Primary Election Committee for Ondo State, Hon. Iboroma Harry Dabibi, showed that only three of the nine incumbent lawmakers clinched the party’s tickets to return to the Green Chamber.
One of the biggest victories recorded during the exercise was in Akoko North East/Akoko North West Federal Constituency, where Ifeoluwa Ehindero secured a landslide win with 22,304 votes.
Ehindero defeated Ibrahim Moruf Tosin, who garnered 330 votes, and Oseni Oyeniyi, who polled 118 votes.
In Ondo East/Ondo West Federal Constituency, Dr. Abiola Peter Makinde emerged victorious after polling 10,847 votes to beat Ade Adeniyi, who secured 2,045 votes, and Bola Fisayo, who scored 1,551 votes.
The Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency primary also produced a clear winner as Dr. Damamola Olumuyiwa defeated his rivals with 6,547 votes.
Prince Jimi Odimayo polled 827 votes, while Dele Omosehin secured 623 votes.
In Akure North/Akure South Federal Constituency, Hon. Omowunmi Olatunji Ohwovoriole triumphed in a keenly contested race involving 10 aspirants after polling 9,237 votes.
Hon. Dennis Fadairo came second with 2,120 votes, while Hon. Bamidele Ologunloluwa scored 549 votes.
The primaries, however, witnessed dramatic turns in some constituencies following the disqualification of aspirants who reportedly failed to obtain clearance from 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 by the committee.
His disqualification paved the way for Hon. Adefarati Gboyega, who polled 1,865 valid votes, to emerge as the party’s candidate.
A similar scenario played out in Owo/Ose Federal Constituency where Hon. Ayodeji Arowele Samuel’s 9,690 votes were invalidated over clearance issues.
Consequently, Engr. Kayode Ijalana, who secured 7,098 valid votes, was declared winner of the primary.
In Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency, Hon. Adefisoye Tajudeen Adeyemi also lost out after his 5,463 votes were voided by the committee.
Rasaq Obe, who polled 4,988 valid votes, was subsequently declared the winner.
Other successful aspirants included Hon. Matthew Oyerimade, who won the Odigbo/Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo Federal Constituency ticket with 12,744 votes, and Akingboye Akinleke David, who clinched the APC ticket for Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency after polling 9,284 votes.
Speaking after the exercise, Dabibi commended party leaders, stakeholders and members for the peaceful conduct of the primaries.
He noted that the orderly process reflected the APC’s commitment to internal democracy and urged dissatisfied aspirants to support the party’s candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.