Following the Wednesday deadline for the sales of Expression of Interest and Nomination forms, the ruling All Progressives Congress has raised N720m from 16 governorship aspirants jostling for the party ticket in Ondo State ahead of the April 20 primary election.

The sales, which started on March 27, ended on Wednesday.

The ruling party has pegged the Expression of Interest form at N10m, while the Momination Form went for N40m.

However, female aspirants and persons with disabilities were given concession to only procure the Expression of Interest form while the Nomination form was free for them.

But at the close of sales of forms on Wednesday, the party has succeeded in raking a N720m from 14 male and two female aspirants from the state.

Among those who have so far purchased the forms were the incumbent Governor Lucky Ayiedatiwa; business mogul and senator representing Ondo South district, Jimoh Ibrahim; notable APC chieftain, Olusola Oke; former President of Nigerian Medical Association, Prof. Francis Faduyile; mechanical engineer, Dr Funmi Waheed-Adekojo and APC National Vice Chairman (SouthWest), Isaac Kekemeke.

Others are Akinfolarin Samuel, Olusoji Ehinlanwo, Okunjimi Odimayo, Adewale Akinterinwa, Olugbenga Edema and Gen. Ohunyeye Olamide, Morayo Lebi, Garvey Oladiran Iyanjan and Ifeoluwa Oyedele.

Meanwhile the leadership of ruling party has disclosed that all the aspirants have till Friday, April 5 to fill and return their forms to its directorate of organisation.

In a related development, the National Working Committee of the APC has settled for a direct primary to pick its Ondo governorship flag bearer the April 20 shadow poll.

This was disclosed in a letter sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission to notify it of the party primary in the state.

The letter, which was sighted by our correspondent was jointly signed signed by the National Chairman of APC, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje and his National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru.

The development was further confirmed by the Deputy National Organising Secretary, Nze Chidi Duru on Wednesday night.

“We are using the direct primary mode of election for Ondo State governorship primary election.

“This decision has equally been conveyed in a letter duly signed by the National Chairman and the National Secretary to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that the party has adopted direct mode of election for Ondo State governorship election,” Duru said.