Controversy rocks Ondo APC primaries as Reps aspirants protest sudden disqualification 

By Boye Oyeyemi 

Controversy has trailed the House of Representatives primary elections conducted by the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State following allegations of irregularities and last-minute disqualification of aspirants.

Tension heightened following the emergence of reports that some aspirants were disqualified on the same day the primaries were held across the federal constituencies in the state.

Among those reportedly affected were Adefisoye Tajudeen from Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency, Olusegun Ategbole and Seun Ajongbolo from Akoko South East/South West, as well as Arowole Ayodeji from Owo/Ose Federal Constituency. Others said to have been disqualified include Oseni Oyeniyi, Olaleye Adedipe and Murufu Tosin Ibrahim of the Akoko North East/North West Federal Constituency.

Reacting to the development, Murufu Ibrahim, popularly known as Hon. Murphy, described his disqualification as sudden and questioned the decision to release the screening report on the day of the primary election. He argued that the timing denied affected aspirants the opportunity to seek redress, urging the party leadership to explain the process behind the action.

Also speaking, an aspirant in the Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency, Wale Ayadi, dismissed claims that a valid primary election was held in the constituency, alleging that no electoral materials or officials were deployed to the 23 wards. Ayadi called for an investigation into the exercise, stressing the need to protect internal democracy within the party and ensure fairness in future elections.

Reacting to the allegations, the Ondo State APC Director of Media and Publicity, Steve Otaloro, maintained that the exercise was largely peaceful across the state, adding that reports from most wards indicated orderly conduct.

Otaloro said issues raised by aggrieved aspirants would be clarified during the collation stage, noting that the state secretariat only handled logistics while officials from the party’s national headquarters supervised the conduct of the primaries.