APC ticket: All is now set for today’s governorship primaries of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ondo State.
As it is, a tough contest looms among the 16 aspirants screened and cleared for the exercise by the APC hierarchy as none of the aspirants including Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who is also running, is sure of picking the party’s ticket.
A nine-man committee headed by Emma Eneukwu, had examined the certificates and documents of the 16 aspirants comprising 14 males and two females.
Among the 16 contestants, 14 are from Ondo South senatorial district. The battle for Ondo South delegates’ votes is expected to be fierce and the two other senatorial districts- Central and North are expected to be tie breakers. The APC adopted direct primaries to be held across the 18 LGAs of the state.
The sudden death of the Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who was the symbol of the party in the state, without naming his preferred successor, disorganized and caused division in Ondo APC as the once united Aketi loyalists have gone different ways. While some remained in the camp for their loyalty to their benefactor, many others had jumped out even while the former governor was still recuperating on his sick bed.
Consequently, the political tension across the state has risen to a boiling point ahead of today’s contest.
Aspirants woo Central, North
To win votes of Ondo Central and Northern, all the 14 aspirants have promised to appoint their deputies from the Central and Secretary to the State Government from North respectively.
The cleared aspirants include Governor Aiyedatiwa; immediate past Finance Commissioner, Wale Akinterinwa; former member of the House of Representatives and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Mayowa Akinfolarin; former President of the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, and former Special Adviser to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu on Health, Prof Francis Faduyile; APC National Vice Chairman South-West, Hon Isaacs Kekemeke; and two term governorship aspirant, Chief Olusola Oke, SAN.
Others are former Chairman of the Ondo State Oil-Producing Areas Development Commission, OSOPADEC, Hon. Gbenga Edema; the senator representing Ondo South Senatorial District, Dr Jimoh Ibrahim; a retired Army Officer, Brig. Gen. Olamide Ohunyeye; a member of the House of Representatives representing Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency, Hon. Jimi Odimayo; former commissioner of the Nigeria Population Commission, NPC, Diran Iyantan; Executive Secretary of the Niger Delta Power Holdings, Ife Oyedele; Mr Soji Ehinlawo; Mrs Funmilayo Waheed-Adekojo; Morayo Lebi, and Mrs Funke Omogoroye.
Tight race
The entire members of the party from the national, state and council areas are going into the contest unsure of who would win.
There are speculations that President Bola Tinubu, who is said to have a vested interest in who becomes the next governor will play a major in today’s contest.