UPDATED: Ondo 2016: Akeredolu defeats Tinubu’s candidate at APC primary

In what is clearly a keenly contested All Progressives Congress primary election, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) was on Saturday elected candidate of the party for the November 26 governorship election.

It is the second time he is emerging candidate of the party, as he was the candidate in the 2012 governorship election.

In Saturday’s election, he defeated Olusegun Abraham, the preferred candidate of the National Leader, Bola Ahmed Tunubu, by 669 votes.

Mr. Abraham, an international businessman and a one-time Chairman of Owena Motel under Governor Adefarati, scored 635 votes to place second in the race.

He was a governorship aspirant in 2012 on the platform of the defunct ACN but was pressured to step down for Rotimi Akeredolu who flew the party’s flag at the time.

Despite the initial controversy over alleged imposition of Mr. Abraham on the party, the results showed that the election was keenly contested with all the major aspirants showing political strength.

Although 24 persons vied for the ticket, the contest was strictly among Mr. Abraham, Olusola Oke, Robert Boroffice and Mr. Akeredolu.

Mr. Oke pulled some surprises with his performance. He is a new figure in the party, who joined the fold from the PDP.

He scored 576 votes to come third, beating Ajayi Boroffice who was initially well favoured to pick the ticket. Mr. Boroffice garnered 471 votes.

Tayo Alasoadura, the senator representing Ondo Central, recorded 206 votes, even as another serving lawmaker, a member of the House of Representatives, Bode Ayorinde, polled 67 votes.

The only female aspirant, Jumoke Ajasin Anifowose, scored only a vote, while Tunji Ariyomo recorded two votes.

Controversial Tunji Abayomi polled five votes; Adefemi Mayowa, 13 votes; Adegbomire Adebiyi, 8 votes; Adekunle Adekunle, 8 votes; former Senator Ayo Akinyelure, 3 votes and Jamiu Afolabi, 44 votes.

Olabitan Victor scored 18 votes while Oyewumi Taiwo scored 7votes.

Seven ballot papers were invalid.

A total of 2740 delegates were accredited for the exercise.