Few weeks to the primary elections to select candidates for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), disputes have arisen over the mode of candidate selection and zoning arrangement in different senatorial districts of Ondo State. BABATOPE OKEOWO reports the controversies over the mode of primary and zoning arrangements in the state
From one constituency to another in Ondo State, there have been arguments over which zone or constituency should produce senatorial, House of Representatives, and House of Assembly candidates for the forthcoming general election. Since there is no governorship election in the state, the attention of office seekers has shifted to the national and state Assembly elections.
Ondo South
There is tension in the zone over the plan by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to zone the senatorial ticket to the Ilaje/Ese-Odo federal constituency. The development came amid permutations to replace Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, who currently represents the district but is set to vacate the seat following his appointment as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, effectively foreclosing his return to the Senate.
Those jostling for the position include Engr. Febisola Adeyemi, a former member of the House of Representatives from Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo/Odigbo; Barr Morayo Lebi (Irele/Okitipupa federal constituency); a former two-term member of the House of Representatives, Mayowa Akinfolarin; Mathew Oyerinmade and Boye Oyewunmi (all from Odigbo/Ileoluji/Okeigbo federal constituency).
Also in the race are former deputy governor and 2024 Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) governorship candidate, Hon. Agboola Ajayi, and APC National Vice Chairman (South-West), Dr. Isaacs Kekemeke, both from Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency, the same axis as Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa. Ese-Odo Local Government Area of the state has not produced a senator since the beginning of the present democratic dispensation in 1999. Two prominent indigenes, Ajayi and Kekemeke are from Ese-Odo. While Kekemeke is from ArogboIjaw, Ajayi is from Apoi.
According to insiders, consultations among the anti-zoning bloc have intensified, with aspirants rallying ward leaders and key stakeholders across the district to resist what they termed “selective political appeasement.” They argued that zoning the ticket to Ilaje/Ese-Odo will sideline other local governments in Ondo South, insisting that merit, popularity, and grassroots acceptance should determine the party’s candidate.
However, supporters of zoning have continued to counter the agitation, maintaining that the Ilaje/ Ese-Odo axis deserves the slot based on equity and what they describe as a historical imbalance in political representation. Despite the arguments, the APC leadership reaffirmed its preference for a consensus-based approach in selecting candidates ahead of the elections. Ondo State APC chairman, Hon. Babatunde Kolawole, who said that consensus remains a core principle of the party, described it as a leadership-driven process.
He urged continued cooperation from party members and residents to sustain the administration’s developmental strides. According to him, “in our party, we have a consensus, and consensus, in my own definition, is a leadership decision. If we have that much trust in the leadership of His Excellency (Governor Aiyedatiwa), that means he will not lead us astray.
So, whatever decision he takes, let us see it as our collective decision and abide by it.” Koolawole, therefore urged aspirants to exercise patience and remain loyal, citing his personal political trajectory as proof that adherence to party decisions ultimately yields rewards. Governor Aiyedatiwa, who also harped on party supremacy, unity and collective interest over individual ambition, urged aspirants for all elective positions to remain steadfast within the party regardless of the outcome of the primaries.
“I am aware that many of you have individual ambitions whether for the state House of Assembly or the National Assembly but there is a paramount collective goal, and that is the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027. I therefore urge you to remain loyal and committed to the party, whether you win or not. There is always a time for everyone. Only one person can emerge at a time,” he said. Reflecting on his political trajectory, Aiyedatiwa recounted instances where he faced setbacks but remained faithful to the party.
His words “There was a time I contested for the House of Representatives and did not get it. I also contested for the Senate; although I won the primary election conducted in the state, the party’s national leadership later granted an automatic ticket to the incumbent. Yet, I did not leave the party. “In 2016, I was shortlisted for the deputy governorship ticket but was not eventually selected. Still, I remained a committed member. Today, I am the governor. So, there is time for everyone. For all of you showing interest, the position you are vying for is for one person.
“The paramount and most important interest in this party at this time is not your personal ambition; it is for us, our party, to produce the president of the Federal Republic.” The governor further warned aspirants against disloyalty after the primaries, urging them to remain committed to the party regardless of the outcome. “Let it remain so before, during, and after that is the demonstration of the loyalty, consistency, and commitment you have towards the party.”
Ondo North
In Ondo North Senatorial District, the battle is between the Akoko axis and the Owo/Ose axis. Since the beginning of the present political dispensation, Owo/ Ose has produced Ayo Lawrence, Titus Olupitan and Bode Olajumoke , each of them spending one term each. However, in Akoko, Robert Boroffice spent three terms consecutively, while Jide Ipinsagba is spending one term. This development has made the Owo/Ose axis insist that it is their turn to produce the next senator of the zone.
A chieftain of the APC and senatorial aspirant, Dr. Alex Ajipe, said that fairness and equity demand that the Ondo North senatorial seat be returned to Owo/Ose after almost 20 years of exclusion. Ajipe, who narrowly lost the party’s senatorial primary to the incumbent senator four years ago and subsequently worked for the APC victory in the 2023 elections as a member of the Tinubu’s Campaign Organisation, cautioned against bias.
He also urged the leadership of the party to ensure justice and inclusiveness in picking a candidate for the Ondo North senatorial seat. Pointedly, the APC chieftain rejected the idea of automatic tickets for serving National Assembly members, insisting on due democratic process.
He emphasized that loyalty, positive contributions to the party and the state should be considered, insisting that the Owo/Ose axis deserves the zone senatorial seat as the Akoko axis is enjoying uninterrupted 16 years at the Senate. His words: “I have paid my dues in this party since 1998 from Alliance for Democracy (AD) to Action Congress (AC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to APC. Many of us have worked tirelessly, believing that one day it will be our turn. When it comes to party empowerment, nobody has empowered the party more than I have.”
The aspirant noted that his ambition is rooted not just in personal interest but in the collective demand of his people, noting that Owo/Ose stakeholders have consistently agitated for the senate seat. “Owo/Ose people are agitating that in the last 20 years, they have not produced a senator. Akoko wanted the senatorial seat at a time, and it was given to them. Today, the senatorial seat has remained in Akoko for four consecutive terms. It is only fair that it returns to Owo/Ose. I am delivering the message of Owo/Ose, we need the Senate.
Our people will not condone being sidelined for too long,” he said. Ajipe, however, clarified that he was not outrightly alleging marginalisation of Owo/Ose, but conveying concerns raised during consultations. According to him, “I did not say there is marginalisation yet. What I said is that during consultations, our people expressed concerns and made their demands known. It is my duty to relay to the leadership.
“Some people felt marginalised, I called them, I opened my doors, and everything was resolved. We gave voice to the voiceless during the last APC congress and held the party together.” Responding, the state chairman of the party assured the aspirants of fairness and due process, declaring that all aspirants contesting on the party’s platform would be given a level playing field in line with the party’s constitution.
His words “It is the culture of the party to formally receive aspirants. As a party, we do not have the power to endorse any aspirant. The leader of the party in the state, the governor, holds that position, and whatever decision he takes is for the betterment of the state. “As a party, we will give a level playing ground for all aspirants. In APC, we make decisions through a consensus arrangement; it is constitutional.
Our duty is to guide and recommend the best candidate.” While the zone to produce the senator was being intensified, there was also disagreement over which local government are should produce the next member of the House of Representatives between Owo and Ose local governments. The incumbent, Hon. Timehin Adelegbe from Ose, is spending his second term in office, leaving Owo to produce the representative’s seat. But the argument is that the deputy governor is from Owo, so Ose should be allowed to still retain the seat.
Ondo Central
There has not been an argument over which area should produce the next senator in the zone. All the three federal constituencies have produced senators. Ondo East/West federal constituency had produced Senator Gbenga Ogunniya for three terms; Idanre/Ifedore had produced Ayo Akinyelure for two terms, while Akure North/South has produced Tayo Alasoadura and Niyi Adegbonmire.
However, there is an argument over who produced the House of Representatives seat between Idanre which is spending two consecutive terms, and Ifedore who wants to replace them. The same thing is applicable between Akure North and South and Ondo East/West.
