The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has upturned some of the results of the Senate and House of Representatives primaries held in constituencies in Ondo State.
Those who lost out in the NWC decision included those who emerged as the party’s consensus candidates and those who emerged from primaries held in three senatorial and nine federal constituencies.
In the review of the results, eight candidates who were declared winners during the primaries lost their tickets to the NWC’s preferred candidates.
In a letter dated June 29, 2026, addressed to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), forwarded the party’s approved list of senatorial and House of Representatives candidates after the determination of appeals by the Primary Election Appeal Committees.
The letter, signed by the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, and the National Secretary, Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru, stated that the reviewed list represented the final position of the party on the affected constituencies after the reports of the appeal committees were considered and approved by the National Working Committee in line with the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines.
The review produced major changes in the state, saw the party replacing two of its three senatorial candidates and all six House of Representatives candidates affected by the appeals.
For the Senate, Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire (SAN) replaced Dr Taiwo Fasoranti as the APC candidate for Ondo Central Senatorial District, while Senator Olajide Ipinsagba emerged in place of Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye for Ondo North Senatorial District. The Ondo South Senatorial ticket was unaffected by the review, with Hon. Kekemeke as the candidate.
The NWC also substituted Hon. Kayode Adejana with Hon. Timehin Adelegbe for Owo/Ose Federal Constituency and replaced Hon. Olumuyiwa Daramola with Hon. Okunjimi John Odimayo for Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency
In the House of Representatives, Hon. Donald Ojogo replaced Mr Akingboye Leke for Ilaje/Ese Odo Federal Constituency, while Hon. Festus Olarewaju Akingbaso displaced Hon. Rasaq Obe in Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency
Similarly, Dr Abiola Makinde lost the APC ticket for Ondo East/Ondo West Federal Constituency to Hon. Dr Michael Olajide Akintomide, while Oyerinmade Matthew was replaced by Hon. Festus Ayodele Adefiranye as the party’s candidate for Ile Oluji/Okeigbo/Odigbo Federal Constituency.
Apart from Prince Abiodun Adesida of Akure North and South, and Abiola Makinde of Ondo West and East federal constituencies, six House of Representatives members secured return tickets to the House of Representatives.
Also, the two serving senators, including Ipinsagba and Adegbonmire g, got APC return tickets. Senator Jimoh Ibrahim w, who represented Ondo South before his deployment to the United Nations h, has been replaced by Hon Kekemeke.
The extensive substitutions make Ondo State one of the states most affected by the APC’s post-primary appeal process, effectively overturning the outcomes of several constituency primaries conducted earlier by the party.
However, the results of the other four candidates were not changed, namely, Isaac Kekemeke remains the candidate for Ondo South; Ifeoluwa Ehindero for Akoko Northeast/Northwest federal constituency; Adegboyega Adefarati for Akoko Southwest/Southeast federal constituency, and the only female, Omowummi Olatunji for Akure North/South federal constituency.
The development is expected to generate fresh political intrigue within the Ondo APC, as many of the aspirants whose victories were reversed had earlier celebrated their emergence from the party primaries.
