All sixteen of the All Progressives Congress’s (APC) candidates vying for the party’s governorship ticket in Ondo State on Saturday have the all clear to move further.
They were cleared by the seven-man screening committee that interviewed them in Abuja on Friday.
Seven Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members are seeking the endorsement of the majority of the 627 delegates who will be voting during the party’s own primaries.
Cleared for the APC primaries by the screening committee are the incumbent governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, former National Vice Chairman (South West) Duerimini Isaac Kekemeke, Olusoji Adewale Ehinlanwo, a former member of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Olugbenga Omogbemi Edema and business magnate, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim.
Others are Engr. (Mrs.) Funmilayo Waheed-Adekojo, Hon. Akinfolarin Mayo Samuel, former Commissioner for Finance, Hon. Adewale Olumuyiwa Akinterinwa, legal luminary, Chief Olusola Alexander Oke, SAN, Ohunyeye Olamide Felix and Barr. Morayo Lebi.
Also cleared for the shadow election are Garvey Oladiran Iyanjan, Prof. Francis Adebayo Faduyile, and Engr. (Mrs) Judith Folakemi Omogoroye, President Unilag Alumni (Worldwide), Engr. Ifeoluwa Olusola Oyedele and Hon. Omo’Oba Okunjimi Odimayo John.
The clearance of the APC aspirants was contained in a report submitted to the party by the chairman of the Committee, Senator Joshua Lidani yesterday to the Directorate of Organisation of the party.
The Nation gathered that in screening the aspirants, the committee considered their eligibility, suitability, character assessment and support verification among other requirements as prescribed by the Electoral Act and the guidelines for the election.
After over seven hours of interaction and scrutiny of documents submitted by the aspirants, the committee declared all 16 aspirants as meeting the basic requirements to contest the election.
It was further gathered that the committee in its report stated that all aspirants demonstrated their willingness to support any aspirant that emerges as the party’s standard bearer for the November 2024 gubernatorial election in Ondo State.
It then urged the party leadership to ensure that the desire and commitment of the aspirants are followed by the party hierarchy both at national and state levels to avoid any future anti-party activity.
The committee further urged the party to ensure that the April 20 primary elections are free, fair and credible with no room for imposition of candidate.
The Senator Lidani-led committee also advised the national leadership of the party to put mechanisms in place for dispute resolution before, during and after the primary election.
APC will pay if the wrong candidate is picked, group warns
A socio-political group, the Omoluabi Coalition Group, (OCG) yesterday advised the party to pick the right candidate at the Saturday primaries if it is interested in winning the November election.
It cautioned the APC against picking an unpopular candidate.
Director General of the group, Comrade Tunji Balogun, said: “Opposition parties are not sleeping. They are praying we present somebody with bad record. I am sure the APC knows what is happening. It is time for Ondo people to know who is here with Ondo people.
“We want to move the state beyond where Akeredolu left it. We are sending the strongest message to the APC. If they make the mistake, they will lose Ondo State.
“APC leadership should give us a competent and flawless candidate. They know what to do. They should do proper and due diligence investigation. They should give us Oke.
“We believe in continuation. We believe in somebody that will continue where Akeredolu stopped. We need a competent candidate.
“The APC should be wise in picking a candidate. The party should be diligent.
Ondo PDP elects 627 delegates ahead of primary
Members of the PDP in Ondo State have elected 627 delegates ahead of its primary scheduled for April 25.
The delegates are to elect the party’s candidate for the November governorship polls.
Ondo PDP spokesman, Kennedy Peretei, who described the delegate congress as free and fair, said delegates emerged through consensus.
He said the party concluded its delegates’ congresses by electing one person from each of the local government area.
A total of seven aspirants bought the nomination forms of the PDP.
They are Otunba Bamidele Akingboye, Hon Agboola Ajayi, Engr Adeolu Akinwumi, Chief Sola Ebiseni, John Ola Mafo, Bosun Arebuwa and Hon Kolade Akinjo.
From all indications the November election will be a two-horse race between the PDP and the ruling APC. Both parties have screened and cleared aspirants that purchased the nomination and expression of interest forms.
While the PDP will use the indirect mode of primary, the APC has opted for the direct mode.
Majority of the aspirants are from Ondo South senatorial district in line with the rotation agreement among the three senatorial zones in the state.