FEW weeks to the primaries in Ondo State, there is an indication that the fees charged for the purchase of the expression of interest and the nomination forms by the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State have reduced the number of the aspirants of the two parties.

The APC has fixed N2.5m for the Expression of Interest Form and N20m for the Nomination form while the PDP charged N1m for the sale of the Expression of Interest form and N20m was fixed the nomination form.

It was gathered that only Governor Rotimi Akeredolu had purchased the forms in the APC among the 13 aspirants of the party.

 But in the PDP, it was gathered that only six people out of over 10 aspirants of the party had purchased the forms.

Those aspirants that have collected the forms in the PDP are Dr Eddy Olafeso, Mr Banji Okunomo, Mr Eyitayo Jegede, Dr Bode Ayorinde, Oba Akingboye and Mr Tony Erewa.

It was gathered that some of the aspirants considered the money charged for the forms to be too exorbitant and consequently, might not be part of the race.

A source in the APC said, “The National Secretariat of the APC deliberately fixed that huge amount of money for the forms in order to know those who are serious among the aspirants.”

In his own reaction, one of the aspirants of the APC and immediate former President of the Nigeria Medical Association, Prof. Francis Faduyile, said, “The money is much; that does not mean I would not collect my form. I am currently busy doing my work ahead the primary. I will soon obtain my form,” he stated.

Also, in his own reaction, the National Vice Chairman of the PDP (South West) and aspirant, Dr Eddy Olafeso, said other aspirants would get their forms before the deadline.”