Akinyelure, Tofowomo, lose bids to return to Senate in Ondo
Two sitting Senators from Ondo State, Ayo Akinyelure and Nicholas Tofowomo have lost bids to return to the Senate for another term in office in 2023.
They were defeated in the primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), held on Monday.
Senator Akinyelure, who represents Ondo Central was defeated by Ifedayo Adedipe, SAN, while Tofowomo, from Ondo South, lost to former Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi.
Mr. Adedipe from Akure scored 82 votes to beat Senator Akinyelure, who had 58 votes. Another contestant, Clement Faboyede scored 57 votes.
In Ondo South, Ajayi scored 78 votes to beat Tofowomo who polled 74 votes. Other contestants, Iroju Ogundeji scored 23 votes, Godday Erewa, 12 votes and Raphael Ademulegun, 11 votes.
Reacting to the outcome of the election, Akinyelure blamed former Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko for being the brain behind his loss.
The senator he did everything for the senatorial district, expressing regret that the delegates paid him back with instruction from Mimiko that he should be voted out.
“As a ranking senator and with all I have done for them in Ondo Central Senatorial District, the three ad-hoc delegates favour Olusegun Mimiko. They gave instructions to them to vote me out. I am happy about this but I know my God will never fail.
“I know what I am talking about. We have six local governments in the Central, by the grace of God I am still a sitting senator.
“The election was so transparent, but I know that with the volume of what I have done for Ondo Central Senatorial District, I did not expect to be paid this way. But I have a destiny that nobody can stop,” he said.
