By Abiola Olawale
A former deputy governor of Ondo State, Hon. Ajayi Agboola, has been declared the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the November 16, 2024 election in the state.
Mr Ajayi, who had served as deputy governor to the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu in his first tenure in office, from 2016 to 2020, before they fell out, won the PDP primary, which was held on Thursday, April 25, to set a battle with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), who became Akeredolu’s deputy governor in his second term.
Mr Aiyedatiwa was elected the flagbearer of the APC on Sunday, April 21, 2024, defeating 15 other aspirants, some of whom have rejected the declaration, and asked for cancellation of the primary for a fresh exercise.
At the PDP, Ajayi polled a total of 264 votes to defeat six other aspirants, including a former House of Representatives member, Hon. Kolade Akinjo, who came second with 157 votes.
Also, a former commissioner for the Environment, Chief Ebiseni Olusola, trailed behind with 99 votes, while Engr. Adeolu Akinwumi polled 64 votes to come third and fourth, respectively.
Otunba Bamidele Akingboye got 24 votes, while a former commissioner for Information in the state, John Ola Mafo, got nine votes, and Bosun Arebuwa polled two votes in the exercise held on Thursday.
The election was keenly contested among the seven aspirants, and no fewer than 621 delegates from the 18 local government areas of the state participated in the poll held at the main auditorium of the International Event Centre, Akure, the Ondo State capital city.
