Senator Ayo Akinyelure, representing Ondo Central and Nicholas Tofowomo from Ondo South were roundly defeated in the People’s Democratic Party primaries in Ondo State on Monday.
Former Ondo State Deputy Governor, Chief Agboola Ajayi defeated Tofowomo in the South while legal practitioner from Akure, Ifedayo Adedipe, SAN, beat Akinyelure
The two sitting Senators from Ondo State thus lost bids to return to the Senate for another term in office.
This followed their defeat in the keenly contested primary election of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) which was held on Monday nationwide.
Ajayi scored 78 votes to beat Tofowomo who polled 74 votes, Iroju Ogundeji: 23 votes, Godday Erewa: 12 Votes, and Raphael Ademulegun: 11 Votes.
In Ondo Central, Mr Adedipe had 82 votes, Mr Akinyelure polled 58 votes, while Clement Faboyede scored 57 votes.
Akinyelure blamed former Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko for being the brain behind his inability to win the Senatorial ticket as the Party’s candidate ahead of the 2023 general election.
Reacting to the outcome of the primary election, Akinyelure expressed regret that despite all he did to help the people of Ondo Central Senatorial District, the delegates paid him back with instruction from Mimiko that he should be voted out.
“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 Ondo Central Senatorial District, I did not expect to be paid this way. But I have a destiny that nobody can stop.”
