BREAKING: APC SETTLES ONDO TICKET CRISIS, GRANTS AUTOMATIC RETURN TICKETS TO SERVING LAWMAKERS

APC SETTLES ONDO TICKET CRISIS, GRANTS AUTOMATIC RETURN TICKETS TO SERVING LAWMAKERS

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has reportedly moved to resolve weeks of political tension and internal disputes in Ondo State by granting automatic return tickets to all serving Senators and members of the House of Representatives from the state ahead of the next general elections.

According to sources familiar with developments at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja, the APC leadership has approved the issuance of nomination forms to all incumbent federal lawmakers representing Ondo State, directing them to complete and submit the necessary documentation.

The development follows a prolonged internal crisis that emerged after the party’s controversial primary election process in the state, which triggered widespread disagreements among party stakeholders and supporters.

As part of the reported arrangement, APC South-West Vice Chairman, Isaac Kekemeke, has secured the party’s senatorial ticket for Ondo South Senatorial District. However, concerns remain over reports that the list of candidates for the Ondo State House of Assembly elections may have undergone significant adjustments at the national level amid competing political interests.

The intervention from the APC national leadership comes after weeks of growing unrest within the Ondo chapter of the party, particularly after the primary elections conducted in May. Political tensions intensified when attempts were made by state party leaders to implement a consensus-based arrangement, a move that reportedly faced opposition from several aspirants and party stakeholders.

The crisis deepened when the APC National Screening Committee released a list of aspirants who were reportedly not cleared to participate in the primaries. Among those affected were several high-profile aspirants, including Tajudeen Adefisoye, Victor Ategbole, and Samuel Arowele.

Other aspirants reportedly affected by the screening decision included Seun Ajongbolo, Morufu Ibrahim, Oyeniyi Oseni, and Olaleye John Adedipe, with some party members questioning the timing of the announcement and raising concerns about transparency in the process.

The situation later escalated as supporters of affected aspirants staged protests in parts of the state, blocking roads and demanding a review of the exercise.

Political tensions further heightened when unidentified individuals reportedly disrupted activities at the APC State Secretariat in Akure during the collation of House of Representatives primary election results. Security personnel were said to have intervened as party officials evacuated the premises amid the unrest.

Reports indicate that disputes arising from parallel primary elections and multiple petitions submitted to the national leadership created uncertainty for several incumbent lawmakers before the latest intervention from Abuja.

By issuing automatic return tickets to sitting federal lawmakers, the APC leadership appears to be seeking to restore stability within the party structure in Ondo State and avoid further internal divisions ahead of critical election preparations.

Despite the move, political observers believe dissatisfaction among some local stakeholders could still lead to fresh legal or political challenges as affected aspirants continue to demand greater transparency in the party’s internal processes.