By Dayo Johnson Akure

Strong indications have emerged that Ondo State Governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, may have lost out in the power game over the National Assembly primaries of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as his preferred candidates failed to make the final list uploaded to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The APC completed the upload of its 471 candidates for the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections following INEC’s extension of the deadline from Saturday, July 11, 2026 to midnight on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.

A check in Ondo State showed that all aspirants loyal to the governor were excluded from the list submitted to the commission.

However, a source close to the governors camp told vanguard that the governor’s loyalists are in the majority in the list of members in the state House of Assembly uploaded by the party’s NWC.

Party sources said Governor Aiyedatiwa rushed back to Akure after unsuccessful last-minute efforts to overturn the decision of the party’s Appeal Committee, which upheld other candidates.

The development sparked a peaceful protest in the riverine Ilaje Local Government Area over the NWC’s decision to retain serving member, Hon. Donald Ojogo, whose appeal was upheld by the party.

Recall that the APC NWC relied on reports of its Appeal Committee to return seven serving House of Representatives members and two senators for the 2027 election. The decision shut out loyalists of the governor who had earlier claimed victory at the primaries.

Announcing the upload, APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, said the party’s attention would now shift to mobilisation and preparations for a decisive victory at the polls.

In a letter dated June 29, 2026 to INEC and jointly signed by Prof. Yilwatda and National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, the NWC reshuffled Ondo’s National Assembly tickets, replacing eight candidates who initially emerged from the primaries.

The review was one of the most far-reaching in any state ahead of 2027 and was done in accordance with the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines.

Senate

Two of the three senatorial candidates were affected. Dr. Taiwo Fasoranti was replaced with Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire, SAN, for Ondo Central. In Ondo North, Senator Olajide Ipinsagba was returned, replacing Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye. Ondo South remained unchanged with Hon. Isaacs Kekemeke retaining the ticket.

House of Representatives

In Ilaje/Ese-Odo, former Information Commissioner, Hon. Donald K. Ojogo, replaced Mr. Leke Akingboye. Hon. Festus Akingbaso replaced Hon. Rasaq Obe in Idanre/Ifedore.

Hon. Oluwatimehin Adelegbe replaced Hon. Kayode Adejana in Owo/Ose, while Hon. Okunjimi Odimayo replaced Hon. Olumuyiwa Daramola in Okitipupa/Irele.

Dr. Abiola Makinde lost Ondo East/West to Hon. Michael Akintomide, and Hon. Festus Adefiranye replaced Oyerinmade Matthew in Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo/Odigbo.

Four candidates retained their tickets: Hon. Isaacs Kekemeke, Hon. Ifeoluwa Ehindero, Hon. Adegboyega Adefarati, and Hon. Omowunmi Olatunji, the only female flag bearer in the state.

The NWC is also said to be considering disciplinary action against some members of the Ondo State Executive Committee over alleged involvement in protests against the national leadership.

Last Tuesday, youths on speedboats protested in Ilaje against the dropping of Leke Akingboye. This is the second protest in two weeks.

Among those allegedly linked is the State Woman Leader, Mrs. Ayeola Iji, after a leaked audio where a woman claiming to act on her behalf allegedly directed women to block the Akure-Ilesha-Benin Highway.

A source at the APC National Secretariat said the NWC was displeased with State Chairman, Hon. Kolawole Babatunde, for allegedly failing to contain the situation. The leadership views the protests as acts of indiscipline capable of embarrassing President Tinubu.

“We are aware that these party executive members are acting the script of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa,” a senior party source said.

“It is disheartening that Aiyedatiwa, who has enjoyed the benevolence of the party and President Tinubu, would allow his supporters to protest against his benefactors.”

The source added that the party is compiling reports and appropriate disciplinary action will be taken.

Government officials declined to comment. One of the governor’s aides said: “There’s no problem in Ondo APC. We are members of the same party, we’ll resolve our differences. We’re one big family. Our concern now is the election of President Bola Tinubu.” End