A former Deputy Governor of Ondo State under late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s first term, Hon. Ajayi Agboola has won the 2024 PDP governorship primary election conducted today in Akure.
The Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Primary Election Committee, and Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, announced the result at the primary held at The Dome International Event Centre, Akure.
Agboola polled 264 votes to beat his closest rival, Hon. Kolade Akinjo who had 157votes.
Sola Ebiseni scored 99votes; Adeolu Akinwunmi polled 64votes; Bamidele Akingboye 24votes; Bosun Arebuwa scored 2votes and John Ola Mafo polled 9votes.
It is going to be a straight battle between two deputies governor who worked with Akeredolu as Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the APC will face his predecessor in office as the deputy governor.
A former member of the House of Representatives, Hon Kolade Akinjo, came second with 157 votes, while the former Scretary General of the Pan Yoruba Socio-Political Group, Afenifere, Chief Sola Ebiseni came third in the contest, with 99 votes.
Other results showed that Engr Akinwunmi Adeolu polled 64 votes, Chief Bamidele Akingboye, 24 votes, former information commissioner, John Ola Mafo scored 9 votes while a financial expert Bosun Arebuwa scored two votes.
621 delegates across the 18 council areas of the state, elected Ajayi during the contest held at the International Culture and Events Centre (The Dome), Akure.
Agboola was the former deputy governor to the late governor Rotimi Akeredolu before they parted ways following irreconcilable differences.
Attempt to impeach Ajayi during the crisis between him and the late Akeredolu failed.
Ajayi, it would be recalled joined the PDP after leaving the APC following an irreconcilable difference with the late governor, Rotimi Akeredolu who is the APC candidate.
Recall, that Ajayi, contested the PDP primaries and lost to Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, who became the party’s flagbearer in the election.
Ajayi later dumped the PDP and picked the ticket of the Zenith Labour Party ZLP, to contest the 2020 governorship election and emerged the party’s candidate but lost to the late governor Rotimi Akeredolu
He returned to PDP with Mimiko after the former governor defected to PDP from ZLP
******PDP ALWAYS WINS ANYWHERE I CONDUCTED PRIMARY, WE’LL WIN ONDO BACK —Primary Committee chairman.
The chairman of the 7-man Primary Election Committee and the Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo had earlier promise the aspirants free fair, credible election.
Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, speaking with newsmen before the commencement of the primary election in Akure, said that the aspirants are in high spirits and have promised to work together for whoever emerged as the party’s candidate.
” We are prepared and the aspirants are in high spirits and they have assured me that they would agree to work together for whoever emerged as the candidate.
“The problem of our party is how to get the power back from the APC that had been taken power from us for the past eight years.
“I have gotten commitment of all the aspirants that they would abide by the outcome and we are going to make it transparent as possible.
“You may be aware of my record that I was the one conducted the primaries in Osun state and we won in Osun and I’m here again to conduct the Ondo state and by the grace of God, we are going to win because the sun of the last year is still the same of this year, so the rain will fall and the farmers would have good harvest.”
Declaring Ajayi the winner of the election, the chairman of the committee, Ewhrudjakpo, said that 621 voters were accredited, 619 valid votes while two votes were valid.
He said that Ajayi, having scored the highest votes becomes the candidate of the party in the November 16 governorship election in the state.
*** NO VICTORY, NO VANQUISH, IT’S VICTORY FOR ALL OF US —Agboola
Ajayi, in his acceptance speech, dedicated his victory to the party.
He thanked the committee for a transparent process.
The candidate said that ”no winner , no vanquish, it’s victory for all of us in PDP.
Ajayi, commended his co- contestants and appealed to them to join hands with him to rescue the state for backwardness
