• As Aiyedatiwa Retains Adelami, Ajayi Picks Aide As Running Mates
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the personal particulars of the 17 Governorship Candidates and their running mates for the November 16,2024 governorship election in Ondo state.
The 17 political parties met the Monday, May 20, INEC deadline for the submission of candidates list by the participating political parties.
The commission published the names and particulars in line with the dictates of the 2022 Electoral Act as amended for the people especially voters in Ondo state to scrutinize the particulars of the candidates.
When RAYOPOST visited the INEC headquarters located in the Alagbaka area of Akure , the state capital on Saturday, it was observed that the details of the candidates were pasted on the Commission’s notice board.
According to the details published, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has 59-year old Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the party’s candidate, while the current deputy governor, Olayide Adelami,66 is the deputy governorship candidate of the APC.
For the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), a former deputy governor of the state, Agboola Ajayi born September 24,1968 is the governorship candidate. The spokesman of his campaign, Sam Ogunmusi was listed as the deputy governorship candidate.
It was gathered that while Adelami might be retained as the deputy governorship candidate for the election, Ogunmusi , it was learnt would be replaced by the PDP candidate before the election.
A reliable source close to the internal workings of the APC said, “Yes , that is the decision of the APC and the governor for now that the present deputy governor from Owo should continue but you know there is still window for replacement and anything can still happen.
” There are series of reconciliatory moves from the party and they might prevail on the governor to pick someone possibly from the Central district to pacify the aggrieved or for political considerations, knowing full well the huge votes from the central.”
A PDP leader said, ” Obviously Ogunmusi can’t be the deputy governorship candidate for the November election in PDP, he is a just a placeholder and will be replaced by the candidate soon. A lot of considerations and moves are going on and the PDP wants to be strategic for them to win the election. So, a proper running mate will be picked soon, which will be from the Central, a person that will add value to the Agboola Ajayi ticket.”
The candidates of the other fifteen political parties are,
Accord Party – Ajibola Falaiye, deputy, Samuel lkuyajolu;
Action Alliance – Omolere Akinuli, deputy, Oluwatosin Adeyemi;
African Action Congress – Oluwaseyi Ajayi, deputy, Abiodun Lijofi
All Progressive Grand Alliance – Olatunji Popoola, deputy, Ayorinde Adedeji
Allied Peoples Movement – lsaac Ogunfeyimi, deputy, Arowolo Afolabi.
Action Peoples Party – Babatunde Fadoju, deputy, Olarewaju Ajagunna
African Democratic Congress – Adeyemi Nejo, deputy, Rasheed Ibrahim;
Labour Party – Ayodele Olorunfemi, deputy, Olabisi Adu;
New Nigeria People’s Party – Oluwatosin Ayeni, deputy, Abike Omoyugbo
Peoples Redemption Party – Babatunde Alli, deputy, Olusegun Famesa
Social Democratic Party – Olusegun Oyebolu, deputy, Gift Dada
Young Progressives Party – Otitoloju Akinmurele, deputy, Ayodele Obe
Youth Party – Kehinde Adegoke, deputy, Otitoleke Olupitan
Zenith Labour Party – Abbas Mimiko, deputy, Opeyemi Fadoju.
According to the timetable released by INEC, political parties have till June 10,2024 to replace the candidates and their running mates submitted ahead of the election.
