All is now set for the All Progressives Congress to conduct it’s primary to elect its candidate in the Ondo State governorship election, scheduled for November 16, 2024.
For the exercise, 171,922 validated members of the party drawn from the 203 wards of the 18 local government areas in the state will determine the fate of the 16 aspirants.
The Aspirants eyeing the party’s ticket are Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa; the Senator representing Ondo South, Jimoh Ibrahim; Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Olusola Oke; former President of Nigerian Medical Association, Prof. Francis Faduyile; an engineer, Dr Funmi Waheed-Adekojo and the APC National Vice Chairman (South-West), Isaacs Kekemeke.
Others are Dr Soji Ehinlanwo, Akinfolarin Samuel, Okunjimi Odimayo, Adewale Akinterinwa, Olugbenga Edema, Gen. Ohunyeye Olamide, Morayo Lebi, Garvey Oladiran Iyanjan and Ifeoluwa Oyedele.
The party, on Thursday, inaugurated the officials appointed to oversee the governorship primary election at its national secretariat in Abuja.
The Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, was chosen to head the seven-man Primary Election Committee set up to conduct the shadow poll, while former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, will serve as the Secretary.
Other members include a former Oyo State Deputy Governor, Iyiola Oladokun; Senator Lekan Mustapha, Adefunmilayo Tejuoso; Margaret Duru and Dr Sani Danjuma.
The committee was saddled with the responsibility of conducting a direct primary in all 18 local government areas of the state, to pick the party’s standard-bearer ahead of the November 2024 governorship election.
The ruling party also swore in another five-man committee to take charge of post-election appeals
The appeal committee is headed by former Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar, while Chief Obiocha Israel serves as Secretary
Other members are Edo lawmaker, Patrick Obahiagbo; Jamilu Isiyiaka Gwamna and Chief Onyeka Okafor.
Ododo was, however, absent at the oath-taking ceremony, which started at about 5.30 pm.
Oyibo attributed Ododo’s absence to ‘security challenges and assured that the governor would be available in Ondo State for the assignment tomorrow.
Addressing the audience, the National Chairman of the party, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, charged the primary election committee to take their assignment seriously.
Ganduje also disclosed that they need not panic, as proper security arrangements had been made for the exercise, with a reassurance that all relevant documents would be made available to all the officials ahead of the poll.
