The All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced the results of its House of Representatives primary elections conducted across federal constituencies in Ekiti State, with five candidates emerging victorious, while the election in Ekiti North Federal Constituency I was declared inconclusive following reported crises in parts of the area.
Chairman of the APC National Assembly Primary Election Committee, Adedoyin Banjo, disclosed the results on Sunday in Ado-Ekiti.
The primaries, held on May 16, covered the six federal constituencies in the state, including Ekiti Central Federal Constituency I and II, Ekiti North Federal Constituency I and II, as well as Ekiti South Federal Constituency I and II.
In Ekiti Central Federal Constituency I, which comprises Ado and Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Areas, incumbent lawmaker Olusola Fatoba emerged victorious after polling 8,943 votes.
He defeated four other aspirants, including his closest challenger, Ayodele Oluwafemi, who secured 4,122 votes.
For Ekiti Central Federal Constituency II, covering Efon, Ijero and Ekiti West Local Government Areas, Oladapo Karounwi won the ticket with 6,573 votes, defeating incumbent lawmaker Abiodun Omoleye and another aspirant, Victor Kolade.
In Ekiti South Federal Constituency I, comprising Emure, Ekiti East and Gbonyin local governments, Toyin Okoro secured victory with 9,798 votes, defeating incumbent lawmaker Rufus Ojuawo, who polled 1,842 votes.
Similarly, serving federal lawmaker Femi Bamisile clinched victory in Ekiti South Federal Constituency II after polling 4,379 votes to emerge winner of the primary election.
In Ekiti North Federal Constituency II, which consists of Moba, Ilejemeje and Ido-Osi local governments, Ibrahim Olanrewaju defeated incumbent lawmaker Akinlayo Kolawole with 6,856 votes against 2,102 votes.
However, the committee declared the election in Ekiti North Federal Constituency I, comprising Oye and Ikole Local Government Areas, inconclusive due to disruptions recorded in some voting centres.
Banjo said the matter would be handled by the National Working Committee of the APC, noting that the electoral process in the constituency could not be completed because of pockets of violence during the exercise.
According to him, the committee lacked the authority to conclude or reschedule the exercise without directives from the party’s national leadership.
He added that residents and party members in Oye and Ikole should await further decisions from the APC National Working Committee regarding the fate of the constituency’s primary election.
