Ondo gov's camp in turmoil as APC disqualifies seven consensus aspirants

The camp of Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has been thrown into disarray following the disqualification of his seven consensus House of Representatives aspirants by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the party primaries.

In a statement released on Saturday, APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka published the list of 14 aspirants disqualified by the party’s National Screening Committee.

The affected candidates come from Ondo, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Kogi, and Rivers states, with Ondo suffering the most casualties, followed by Rivers, while Bauchi, Ebonyi, and Kogi each lost one aspirant.

The statement, titled “Screened and Disqualified House of Representatives Aspirants,” read: “The All Progressives Congress (APC) hereby releases the list of House of Representatives aspirants who participated in the screening exercise but were not cleared to participate in the House of Representatives Primary Election.

The screening exercise was conducted by the Party’s Screening Committees in line with established procedures and guidelines.”

According to the list, Ondo State’s seven consensus aspirants—the highest number from any state—were marked as “Not Cleared.”

Those affected include: Hon. Tajudeen Adefisoye (Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency); Olusegun Victor Ategbole and Seun Oluwashina Ajongbolo (Akoko South-East/South-West Federal Constituency); Rt. Hon. Arowole Ayodeji Samuel (Owo/Ose); and Morufu Tosin Ibrahim, Oseni Oyeniyi, and Olaleye John Adedipe (Akoko North-East/North-West Federal Constituency).

From Rivers State, the three disqualified aspirants are Air Commodore John Azubuike Opara (rtd) (Port Harcourt), Hon. Anderson Allison Igbiki (Okrika/Ogu/Bolo), Awaji Imombek Abirite (Andoni/Opori-Nkoko), and Hon. Boma Goodhead (Asari-Toru/Akuku-Toro).

The disqualifications from Bauchi, Ebonyi, and Kogi states include Dr. Bashir Ibrahim Bello (Darazo/Ganjuwa), Hon. Idu Gariwe (Afikpo-Edda), and Sanni Salau Ogembe (Okene/Ogori/Magongo), respectively.

Sources indicate that the seven disqualified consensus aspirants from Ondo, all loyal to Governor Aiyedatiwa, were his chosen candidates.

Their exclusion has sparked growing anxiety in the state, particularly among the governor’s supporters. Meanwhile, the affected aspirants have begun weighing their options for possible redress.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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