Ex-Ondo deputy gov, Ajayi wins PDP governorship primary
By Akintunde Jacobs, Akure
The former deputy governor of Ondo state, Agboola Ajayi, has emerged as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the forthcoming November 16, governorship election in the state.
Ajayi was declared winner of the governorship primary election which took place on Thursday by the Chairman of the PDP Primary Election Committee and Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, at the International Culture and Event Centre, The Dome, in Akure, the Ondo state capital.
Ewhrudjakpo, while announcing Ajayi as winner, said he scored 264 votes to beat other 6 aspirants.
The aspirants, who were cleared by the Senator Sam Egwu Screening Committee and participated in the primary election included; former deputy governor, Agboola Ajayi; former Secretary General of Yoruba Social Political Organisation, Afenifere, Olusola Ebiseni; a former member of the House of Representatives, Kolade Akinjo; Adeolu Akinwunmi, John Ola Mafo, Bamidele Akingboye and Bosun Arebuwa.
He said the other aspirants score is as follows: Bamidele Akingboye; 24, Kolade Akinjo; 157, Adeolu Akinwunmi; 64, Bosun Arebuwa; 2, Olusola Ebiseni; 99, John Ola-Mafo; 9.
While Ewhrudjakpo said that the total number of accredited voters was 621, that is three delegates from each ward, total of accredited voters 621, void votes 2, valid votes 619.
According to Ewhrudjakpo, who was flanked by other members of the committee, “Seven aspirants participated in the exercise, nobody stood down for anybody and by virtues of the result, Agboola Ajayi having scored the highest number of votes cast in the indirect primary election, is hereby declared the winner of this primary and hereby declared the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the November 16 2024 governorship election in Ondo state and he is hereby returned as the candidate.”
In his acceptance speech, Ajayi said; “Let me give glory to Almighty God for a day like this, the victory goes to all PDP members, and it is a victory for democracy.
“I want to first commend my brother, our leader, the chairman of the committee, for a transparent and very credible process. I’m sure everybody in Ondo State is happy with the result. You can’t compare it with the direct or fraudulent primary of APC.
“Let me also commend the national leadership of our party for putting in place a transparent process. That is the difference between the PDP and other political parties in Nigeria.
“To all our party members; no victor, no vanquish, we are all winners, and it is a victory for democracy.”
