It was a keen contest among the House of Representatives aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state as delegates elected their party candidates ahead of the 2015 general elections.
The primaries which was conducted through open ballot system and monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officers and security operatives have Gboyega Adefarati, the son of the late Governor Adefarati losing the ticket for Akoko South West/East federal constituency to Senator Ajayi Borroffice’s aide, Kolawole Babatinde.
However, the Pro-Chancellor of Achievers University got the party’s ticket for Owo/Ose federal constituency, while the delegates from Ifedore/Idanre federal constituency voted for Baderinwa Bamidele.
In Ilaje /Ese Odo Federal Constituency, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa emerged the candidate of the party after defeating Barrister Benson Enikuomehin.
Also, in Akure South/North federal constituency, a former State House of Assembly lawmaker, Pastor Afe Olowokere, who scored 328 votes defeated his closest rival, Mr. Saka Yusuf, who scored 292 vote,.
In Ondo West/East, there was consensus arrangement among the party delegates and Hon. Dele Olanubi who emerged as the party flagbearer.
According to the Chairman of Ondo West, Mr. Akintude Olainukan, the party leaders prevailed on two other aspirants, who agreed to step down for the candidate.
Friday Olemija won in the Akoko North East/West.
A chieftain of the party, Chief Tayo Alasoadura commended the leaders for giving room for internal democracy, stressing that such system has helped the party to be transparent in producing popular candidates.
Alasoadura, who is one of the senatorial aspirants for Ondo Central said, “the transparent system designed by the party where aspirants were allowed to test their popularity on political field has helped to curb rancour in the primaries so far. How can you be angry when you are allowed to participate in the primaries voting system?
“And also members of the party are interested in winning power in the state and if we start fighting how are we going to win the heart of the people. I am very sure that at the end of the day, the winners will call upon the losers and make sure they work for the progress of the party”.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state yesterday continued their parallel primaries as the two factions produced separates candidates for the three senatorial districts.
While, Mimiko’s factions, through consensus arrangement picked former senator, Bode Olajumoke for the North, Senator Ayo Akinyelure for Central and Pastor Yele Omogunwa for the South, the old PDP faction also elected Dr. Olu Agunloye for the North, while Olusola Adegbesua for Central and Hon. Agboola Ajayi for the South.
The old PDP through its newly appointed publicity Secretary, Gani Mohammed said they embarked on conducting their primaries due to the fact that it was their own delegates the court declared as authentic candidate.
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