Two sitting senators from have lost their bid to return to the upper chamber of the National Assembly.
Senators Ayo Akinyelure and Nicholas Tofowomo lost the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries held on Monday in On do State.
Akinyelure is representing Ondo Central Senatorial District while Tofowomo represents Ondo South Senatorial District.
Akinyelure came second in the primary election held in Akure, the state capital, having polled 58 votes behind Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), who scored 82 votes.
Tofowomo scored 74 votes behind a former deputy governor of the state, Agboola Ajayi, who polled 78 votes. The exercise was held in Okitipupa, in Okitipupa Local Government Area of the state.
In the Ondo North Senatorial District, MAdetokunbo Modupe defeated Foluso Adefemi by 124 votes to93 votes.
Speaking with journalists after the election, Akinyelure attributed his loss to the influence of the former governor of the state, Olusegun Mimiko, who he claimed did not support him.
“As a ranking Senator and with all I have done for them in Ondo Central Senatorial District, the three ad hoc delegates that favour Olusegun Mimiko, they gave instructions for them to vote me out. I am happy about this but I know my God will never fail.
“I know what I am talking about. We have six local governments in the central, by the grace of God I am still a sitting Senator. The election was so transparent but I know that with the volume of what I have done for the Ondo Central Senatorial District, I did not expect to be paid this way. But I have a destiny that nobody can stop,” Akinyelure said.
The winner of the Ondo Central primary, Adedipe, said it was the first time he would be contesting for elective office, calling all members of the party to support him to win the main election in 2023.
“The exercise has been peaceful and very free. It is the PDP that has won and not Ifedayo. It is the party that conducts a free and fair election. My fellow aspirants should see this as a vote for all of us,” he said.
