No fewer than three House of Representatives aspirants endorsed by Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for the All Progressives Congress primaries have been disqualified by the party.
The affected aspirants are Tajudeen Adefisoye for the Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency, Victor Ategbole for the Akoko South-East/South-West Federal Constituency and Samuel Arowele for the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency.
Other aspirants disqualified by the party include Seun Ajongbolo for Akoko South-East/South-West, Morufu Ibrahim, Oyeniyi Oseni for Akoko North-East/North-West and Olaleye Adedipe for Akoko North-East/North-West.
The APC did not disclose reasons for the disqualifications in a statement issued over the weekend by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka.
Some aspirants in the state had earlier criticized and rejected the endorsement of candidates backed by the governor.
Meanwhile, APC members turned out in large numbers across the state for the party’s direct primary election conducted in the 203 wards.
During monitoring of the exercise in Akure metropolis, party members were seen arriving at designated wards from about 8 a.m., while party officials conducted headcounts.
At Wards 4, 5 and 8, members queued behind posters of their preferred aspirants.
However, there were complaints in some wards as party members alleged that electoral officials were absent to supervise and document the exercise.
