…Here are APC, PDP aspirants to watch
In accordance with the timetable and schedule of activities for the Ondo 2024 governorship election released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in September 2023, political parties taking part in the election scheduled for November 16, 2024 will be going in for their primaries from April 6 to 27, 2024.
As the date draws near, political parties are intensifying preparations as aspirants traverse the nook and cranny of the Sunshine State consulting with stakeholders and party faithful in a bid to secure support for their aspiration.
This is as the tenure of the incumbent governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who took over power following the demise of his former boss, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, will come to an end on February 23, 2025.
INEC, in a statement by its Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, on Tuesday, reiterated that party primaries would be held April 6-27, 2024, while the submission of the list of nominated candidates via the online portal would start at 9 am on April 29, 2024, and close at 6 pm on May 20, 2024.
“The final list of candidates will be published on June 18, 2024, while the campaign in public by political parties commences on June 19, 2024 and ends 24 hours prior to election day on November 14, 2024.”
Reacting to the INEC announcement, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Director of Publicity in Ondo State, Mr Steve Otaloro, said, “This is indeed a positive development. As a political party, we can now officially begin our preparations for the upcoming election. In due time, we will share our plans with you, including the intentions of our aspiring aspirants both within the party and to the public.”
Similarly, the Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Mr Kennedy Peretei, said, “We are prepared and we shall set the necessary machinery in motion to participate and put an end to the suffering of the people of Ondo State.”
APC’s ‘no automatic ticket for Aiyedatiwa’ swells aspirants list
Although the APC is yet to release its official timetable for the Ondo 2024 governorship election, the national secretariat of the party has declared that there will be no automatic ticket for Governor Aiyedatiwa, who has officially declared his intention to run for the number one seat he currently occupies.
The announcement by the APC, which is seen as having created a level playing field for all aspirants within the party, has led to an upsurge in the number of aspirants for the governorship position.
The Ondo APC Director of Publicity, Otaloro has disclosed that a total of 18 aspirants have officially declared their intention to run for the governorship election, actively seeking public support.
Those aspiring include Governor Aiyedatiwa; former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Oladunni Odu; former member of the House of Representatives, Mayowa Akinfolarin; former representative of the state on the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Olugbenga Edema; retired Director of Finance at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Olumide Ohunyeye, and business mogul and incumbent Senator representing Ondo South Senatorial District, Jimoh Ibrahim.
Others are former Commissioner for the Environment in the state, Sola Ebisemi; two-time governorship candidate in the state (2012 and 2016), Olusola Oke; the Executive Director (Engineering and Technical Services) at Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited, Ifeoluwa Oyedele; APC National Vice Chair (South-west), Isaac Kekemeke; former President of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Adedayo Faduyile; Paul Akintelure; Olusola Iji; Jimi Odimayo; Matthew Oyerinmade; Funmilayo Adekojo, and former Finance Commissioner, Wale Akinterinwa.
The aspirants and their profile
Lucky Aiyedatiwa
Born in Obe-Nla, an oil-bearing community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State on January 12, 1965, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa is a Nigerian businessman and politician who took on the role of governor of Ondo State on December 27, 2023. Prior to this, he served as the deputy governor of Ondo State from 2021 to 2023 under late former Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.
Aiyedatiwa holds a National Certificate in Education (NCE) in Economics and Government from Lagos State College of Education, an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration from the University of Ibadan, and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom.
His career spans various roles, including working as an Inventory/Store Officer, Assistant Head Teacher, and Marketing Officer. He is the MD/CEO of Blue Wall Group of Companies, established in 1996, encompassing trading, foreign exchange, and travel agency businesses.
Aiyedatiwa joined active politics in 2011 as a member of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which later merged with other parties to form the APC. He served as a federal commissioner representing Ondo State on the Board of the NDDC from 2018 to 2019.
Ayedatiwa also claimed to have received the blessing and support of his former boss, Akeredolu, contrary to the speculations of a few. He also claimed that the relationship between him and his erstwhile principal was very cordial.
The declaration by the national secretariat that there would be no automatic ticket for the governor may have raised pressure on the governor, who is now seeking public support. His supporters are very much hopeful that he would clinch the party’s primary ticket, deploying the power of incumbency to his advantage. However, a few others may not share this sentiment in the belief that the governor’s ambition may be disadvantageous to the people of Ondo South Senatorial District, a district that has been sidelined for too long and as a result deserves to rule for two consecutive terms.
Wale Akinterinwa
Adewale Olumuyiwa Akinterinwa, born on December 12, 1962, in Ile-Oluji, Ondo State, obtained a BSc (Hons) in Accountancy from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) in 1986.
He held various positions at Triumph Merchant Bank, rising to the role of Group Head Treasury and Financial Services. From 1999 to 2002, he worked with the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation. He demonstrated significant leadership while serving as the Executive Vice Chairman of Gideon Trust Investment Limited from 2003 to 2009.
A member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, Akinterinwa has been Ondo State Commissioner for Finance since 2017. Born in Lagos, he claims Oke-igbo/Ile Oluji LGA in Ondo State as his place of origin.
As a major motivation and justification of his ambition, Akinterinwa revealed that the late Governor Akeredolu anointed him as his successor after returning from a medical trip to Germany in 2023.
Jimoh Ibrahim
Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, born on February 24, 1967, is a Nigerian lawyer, politician, businessman, and philanthropist who currently serves as the senator representing Ondo South Senatorial District at the National Assembly.
As the chairman and CEO of Global Fleet Group, Ibrahim oversees diversified business interests across sectors, including oil & gas, hotels, airlines, banking, real estate, and more.
Senator Ibrahim’s political career can be described as rich in experience and commitment. He ran unsuccessfully for Ondo State governor in 2003.
On March 5, 2024, Mrs. Oladunni Odu, a former SSG, stepped down to support Ibrahim’s governorship bid, expressing confidence in his ability to lead the state.
Senator Ibrahim has repeatedly highlighted his focus on infrastructure development, job creation, and effective governance, positioning himself as an experienced contender for the APC governorship ticket in the upcoming election. He has emphasized the integration of information technology into security measures, claiming that if elected governor, he envisions an Amotekun security network driven by technology, prioritizing state border delineation for enhanced security against kidnappers and armed robbers.
The senator, just like many others, also claimed to have informed the former state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, of his ambition to run for the governorship position.
Olusola Oke
Chief Olusola Oke, born on November 17, 1956, is a lawyer and politician, a prominent figure in Nigerian politics who has contributed to various sectors over the years.
Oke, who hails from Ilaje, Ondo State, has had a distinguished legal career and political journey. In 2012, he contested the gubernatorial election under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Subsequently, he joined the APC and vied for the governorship seat in the 2016 election.
Chief Olusola Oke is recognized for his contributions to legal and political spheres, positioning him as a seasoned figure within Nigerian politics. His dedication to public service and commitment to the APC highlight his continued involvement in shaping the political landscape.
Olumide Ohunyeye
Olumide Felix Ohunyeye is a retired Brigadier General in the Nigerian Army with 35 years of military service. His academic achievements include degrees in Economics, Applied Accounting, an MBA in Finance, an MSDS from Bangladesh Institute of Professionals, and a PhD in Management from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He holds membership and fellowship in professional bodies like FCCA, Nigerian Institute of Management, and others.
Aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Ohunyeye emphasizes agricultural development, envisioning it as a catalyst for revenue generation, substantial employment, and poverty reduction.
His security blueprint leverages military experience to fortify Amotekun and enhance collaboration with security services and neighbouring states.
According to the governorship aspirant, he also envisions comprehensive infrastructure development, including roads, health facilities, and education. His economic strategy involves boosting productive capacity, revitalizing existing companies, and seeking strategic partners for new ventures.
His aspiration reflects a fusion of military experience, educational excellence, and a vision for holistic development. His focus on agriculture, security, infrastructure, and economic revitalization may be described as a reflection of his commitment to uplifting Ondo State collectively.
PDP in strategic moves to dislodge APC
The PDP, in its bid to reclaim the number one seat in Ondo State, has mulled zoning the party ticket to Ondo South Senatorial District and having a consensus candidate, if possible, as it prepares for the November 16 governorship election.
On March 2, 2024, the PDP announced that it would be selecting its candidate from Ondo South. Spokesperson of the state PDP, Kennedy Peretei, emphasized that aligning with a southern candidate is in line with the prevailing political trend and it would be prudent not to swim against the current.
“We have engaged in numerous discussions at various levels regarding the idea of zoning to the south. However, on Friday, we decided to inform other levels of the party leadership about the current scenario,” stated Mr. Peretei.
He said that it was only pragmatic for the party to go southwards because the ruling party has already toed that line.
“If you look at what is going on, you will realise that the feeling is that the next governor should come from the south, and we needed to brief the stakeholders on this so they don’t start reading it on the pages of newspapers and the social media,” he said.
In preparation for the election, the PDP is considering the possibility of selecting a consensus gubernatorial candidate to streamline the number of aspirants vying for the party’s ticket in the November election.
The party’s leadership reached this decision following a meeting with PDP aspirants at its secretariat in Akure.
Addressing newsmen on the outcome of the meeting, Peretei said that iIf the consensus plan fails to materialize, the party would have no choice but to conduct a free, fair, and transparent primary.
The PDP National Working Committee (NWC) has also unveiled the schedule of activities in preparation for the election.
According to the schedule, the sale of expression of interest, nomination forms, and Ad-hoc forms is scheduled to occur between March 7 and March 21. The deadline for the submission of completed expression of interest and Ad-hoc forms is March 25, 2024.
The timetable further indicates that governorship aspirants will undergo screening at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja on March 27, with the screening reports expected to be submitted by March 29. April 2, 2024 will be for appeals related to the screening exercise, while the ward Congress to elect 3-man Ad-hoc Ward Delegates is scheduled for April 6-7, with ward Congress appeals set for April 10.
The party’s congress, where its gubernatorial candidate will be selected, is slated for Thursday, April 25, 2024. The NWC of the party will certify the deputy governorship candidate on May 9. May 20 is the deadline for submitting the name of the governorship candidate to INEC. The final date for the withdrawal and replacement of candidates is June 10th, 2024.
A look at the PDP aspirants
Aspirants that have indicated interest for the ticket of the PDP include former deputy governor, Agboola Ajayi; Bamidele Akingboye, Sola Ebiseeni, Adeolu Akinwunmi, Abayomi Sheba, Bosun Arebuwa, and John Ola Mafo.
Agboola Ajayi
Agboola Ajayi has a background in politics, law, and business, having previously served as the deputy governor of Ondo State from 2017 to 2021. Ajayi, who hails from Kiribo Town in the Western Apoi tribe of the Ese Odo Local Government Area (LGA) of Ondo State, obtained a Bachelor of Law (LL.B) with Second Class Upper Division from Igbinedion University, Okada in Edo State, and was called to the bar in 2010 after completing his legal education at the Nigerian Law School in Abuja.
Ajayi resigned from the APC on June 21, 2020, due to irreconcilable differences with then governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, describing the APC as a “poisoned space”. Subsequently, he joined the PDP, before ultimately aligning with the Zenith Labour Party after losing the PDP gubernatorial primaries to Eyitayo Jegede.
In the 2020 gubernatorial elections in Ondo State, Ajayi contested under the Zenith Labour Party, which was led by former governor Olusegun Mimiko. Returning to the PDP, he is now vying for the gubernatorial ticket under the PDP.
Otunba Bamidele Akingboye (OBA)
Otunba Bamidele Akingboye (OBA), a major contender for the Ondo State governorship on the platform of the PDP, is businessman driven by developing his state.
With almost four decades of successful entrepreneurship under his belt, OBA champions the idea that effective governance mirrors sound business practices rooted in innovation and strategic foresight.
Viewing governance through a business lens, OBA recognizes the untapped potential within Ondo State, praising its abundant natural resources and the innate brilliance of its populace. Driven by a strong commitment to give back to his community, he pledges to utilize his business expertise to steer the state towards prosperity.
Prince John Ola Mafo
Prince John Ola Mafo, a former Commissioner for Information and a prominent figure within the PDP, has officially announced his interest in the gubernatorial ticket of the party in the 2024 election in Ondo State.
In a letter addressed to the PDP leadership, Mafo emphasized the importance of selecting a visionary leader capable of addressing the state’s challenges and serving its people effectively. He expressed willingness to fulfill this role and outlined his vision for the state, highlighting the need for improved infrastructure, employment opportunities, healthcare, education, and overall empowerment of the citizens.
He urged the party to consider his track record and commitment to public service as compelling reasons for selecting him as its standard bearer in the upcoming election.
Bosun Aregbuwa
Bosun Aregbuwa, a chartered accountant and prominent member of the PDP in the state, while declaring his intention to vie for the party’s governorship ticket at the PDP secretariat in Akure, voiced his commitment to transforming the economy if elected.
Expressing his determination to bring about tangible economic growth within two years, Aregbuwa pledged a departure from traditional approaches, emphasizing a focus on practical initiatives rather than just theoretical promises.
Also stating his ongoing efforts to empower youth through technology training programmes, Aregbuwa outlined plans to expand this initiative across all 18 local government areas of the state, with the aim of fostering global competitiveness.
He stressed the importance of leveraging technology to transition the state from a primarily civil service-oriented economy to one driven by industrial innovation.
“I am going to change the old narrative by changing our state from a civil service state to a Hi-Tech economy for the development of the people and the state,” he said.
Regardless of the outcome of the internal selection process, however, Aregbuwa said he would continue supporting the party objectives.
Sheba Abayomi
Hon. Barr. Sheba Abayomi, a grassroots politician renowned for his mobilization skills in Ondo State, was born in the 1960s to High Chief Emmanuel and Reverend Mother Esther Sheba in Ode Irele, Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State.
He obtained a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) with Second Class Upper Division from Adekunle Ajasin University from 2007 to 2011.
Barrister Abayomi entered into competitive politics years ago, initially contesting the SDP primaries in 1992 to represent Irele Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. Although unsuccessful, he remained resolute in his determination to improve representation for his people. Subsequently, he contested and won the same election in 1997/1998 under UNCP, representing Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency. However, the process was nullified following the demise of the then military Head of State, General Sani Abacha.
Abayomi joined the PDP at its inception in 1998/1999 and secured the party’s ticket to run for the same seat, emerging victorious despite stiff opposition from the AD in the South-West zone. Remarkably, he was the sole elected PDP member to the House of Representatives from Ondo State in 1999.
Adeolu Akinwunmi
Honorable Adeolu Akinwunmi, former Special Assistant to former Governor Olusegun Mimiko, officially declared his intention to participate in the Ondo 2024 governorship election when he submitted his Letter of Intent to the Ondo PDP State Working Committee (SWC) in July 2023.
Akinwunmi holds a degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Ibadan (2001) and a Master of Science degree in Computer Systems Engineering (with Distinction) from the University of East London (2005). He has amassed extensive experience in engineering services and project management, having worked in prominent firms in both the United Kingdom and Nigeria. He currently oversees Hiribana Nigeria Limited, a reputable engineering project management consulting firm.
Sola Ebiseni
Chief Sola Ebiseni, a diverse individual with expertise in law, politics, and history, has left an indelible mark on the socio-political landscape of Ondo State, Nigeria. With a notable tenure as the former Chairman of Ilaje/Ese Odo Local Government Area, as well as three consecutive terms as Commissioner within the state, Chief Ebiseni is dedicated to public service.
Notably, he was the pioneer Commissioner for Environment in Ondo State and later assumed the role of Chairman of the state Law Commission.
During his six-year tenure as commissioner under Governor Mimiko, Chief Ebiseni’s astute leadership garnered recognition, earning him the privilege of representing the South-West region at the prestigious 2014 National Conference.
Beyond his political endeavours, Chief Ebiseni is a staunch advocate for human rights and a prominent figure within the Afenifere socio-political organization. His unwavering commitment to truth and justice has solidified his reputation as a principled and forthright individual within the legal profession and broader community. As the Secretary-General of Afenifere, he continues to champion the values and aspirations of the Yoruba people, embodying integrity in all his endeavours.
