News

Hundreds of Students Affected as Ondo Shuts Schools for APC Assembly Primaries

ByTitilope Adako

PublishedMay 20, 2026

Hundreds of students in public schools across Ondo State will stay away from classrooms on Wednesday as the state government temporarily shuts down selected schools to serve as polling centres for the All Progressives Congress (APC) State House of Assembly primaries.

The Ondo State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology announced that affected primary and secondary schools across the 18 local government areas of the state would be closed for one day to allow the conduct of the APC primaries.

According to the ministry, the decision was aimed at ensuring security and maintaining order within school premises expected to host party delegates, electoral officials, and security personnel during the exercise.

In a statement issued by the ministry, learners, teachers, and non-academic staff in the affected schools were directed to remain at home on the election day.

“All learners, teachers, and other staff in the affected schools are hereby directed to stay at home on the election day,” the statement read.

The ministry explained that the temporary closure was part of measures to guarantee “the peaceful, orderly, and secure conduct of the electoral process” in the schools selected for the exercise.

It added that heads of affected schools would be contacted directly to ensure compliance, while officials from Zonal and Area Education Offices had been deployed to monitor implementation across the state.

The closure is expected to disrupt academic activities for one day, as the selected schools will accommodate party officials, delegates, electoral personnel, and security operatives participating in the APC primaries.

Despite the disruption, the government assured parents and guardians that candidates currently writing the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WAEC-SSCE) would not be affected.

The ministry stated that adequate arrangements had been put in place to ensure examinations continue smoothly in affected schools, especially for students residing in boarding facilities.

According to the government, the measures were designed to protect candidates and provide a conducive atmosphere for examinations despite the political activities taking place within some school premises.

The ministry further disclosed that normal academic activities would resume in all affected schools on Thursday, May 21, 2026, after the conclusion of the primaries.

The APC primaries in the state have been surrounded by controversies, with several aspirants accusing the party leadership of imposition, bias, and lack of transparency in the conduct of the exercise.

Titilope Adako

Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.