Two senators of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 9th National Assembly, Nicholas Tofowomo and Patrick Ayo Akinyelure, have emerged as African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidates for the 2027 National Assembly elections in Ondo State.

While Tofowomo emerged as the candidate for the Ondo South senatorial district, Akinyelure, who has served for two terms in the Senate, became the candidate for the Ondo Central senatorial district. A former governorship aspirant of the PDP, Mr Foluso Mayowa Adefemi, emerged as the senatorial candidate for the Ondo North senatorial district.

Additionally, a philanthropist and former PDP leader in the state, Hon. Balarabe Akinwumi, has emerged as the ADC candidate for the Akure North/South federal constituency.

Besides, a former representative of Ondo State on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and governorship candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the last governorship election, Hon. Gbenga Edema, emerged as the candidate for the Ilaje/Ese-Odo federal constituency.

Others who emerged as House of Representatives candidates included Omosuyi Abayomi (Irele/Okitipupa), Samuel Adesida (Owo/Ose), Olafunmiloye Olufemi (Ile-Oluji/ Oke-Igbo/ Odigbo), Samuel Akinkunola, Adegunloye Adeusi, and Abiloye Olutade (Akoko Southeast/Southwest).

Speaking after the affirmation, Akinwumi said he would emerge victorious in the election because the people have expressed dissatisfaction with the All Progressives Congress (APC) government both at the State and national levels.

Akinwumi said he has lived among the people, knows their concerns, and would ensure that he alleviates their poverty and gives them the dividends of democracy if elected as the representative of the people for the Akure North and South federal constituency.

Similarly, Tofowomo said his performance at the Ninth Assembly would speak for him. He said he built police stations, distributed tools, and trained the people in different skills as part of his empowerment programmes when he was in the Senate.

He said the people would reciprocate his performance with votes in the next year’s election.

Akinyelure said he left the APC for the ADC because of the crisis and because people have lost confidence in the performance of the government. He said the ADC would benefit from the fallout of the APC primaries.

According to him, most of the ADC candidates emerged through consensus arrangements. He said the candidates have the duty to mobilise the electorate and party members to vote during the election. He said the candidates were trusted people who are loved by their people.

The Chairman of the party, Chief Tola Alabere, said the conduct of the primary election showed that they were ready for the forthcoming general elections.

He predicted the implosion of APC because the primary said ADC would benefit from the crisis in the imposition of candidates by the ruling party.