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Tag: Ondo 2024

  • Ondo 2024: Ayeni emerges NNPP governorship candidate

    Ondo 2024: Ayeni emerges NNPP governorship candidate

    Mr Oluwatosin Ayeni has emerged as the candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party( NNPP) for the Nov. 16 governorship election in Ondo State.

    Alhaji Yusuf Galambi, the Chairman of the 2024 NNPP Governorship Primary Election Committee in Ondo State, said a total of 113  delegates were accredited for the exercise.

    Galambi added that Ayeni  polled 100 votes, to defeat his rival , Prof. Ibrahim Ajaguuna, who scored 12 votes, saying there was one void vote.

    He explained that the primary election was free, fair and credible, as witnessed by representatives of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the party’s aspirants, as well as all delegates.

    “I, Yusuf Galambi, declare Oluwatosin Israel Ayeni as winner of the primary election, having scored the higher number of votes cast. The election was peaceful.

    “Nobody is a winner and nobody is a loser. We all know that NNPC is a promising party that maintains its integrity.

    “I want all members to be together, and get prepared for the main election in November,” he said.

    Reacting, Ayeni commended the efforts put in place by the committee in conducting a free and peaceful election.

    He said the victory recorded was dedicated to all members of the party.

    The party’s candidate enjoined the party members to be steadfast in ensuring the party’s victory in November.

    He promised to carry his co-contestant and others along, in the preparation for the gubernatorial election.

    According to him, NNPP is the only alternative to good governance in the state.

  • Ondo 2024: Olorunfemi emerges Labour Party governorship candidate

    Ondo 2024: Olorunfemi emerges Labour Party governorship candidate

    Dr Ayodele Festus Olorunfemi has emerged the governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) ahead of the November 16 Ondo State Governorship Election.

    Olorunfemi was returned unopposed during the LP primary election held at the party’s secretariat in Akure on Friday.

    Mr Olusola Ayodele, Chairman of the LP Primary Committee from the national secretariat, Abuja, declared Olorunfemi as the candidate, having fulfilled the requirements and guidelines of the party.

    Ayodele said out of three aspirants that showed interest, only Olorunfemi obtained the nomination form of N25 million, while the two other aspirants did not pay to obtain the form.

    “We have no other option than to pronounce the only aspirant, Dr. Ayo Olorunfemi, who fulfilled the conditions in line with the guidelines, as elected and returned unopposed.

    “The disqualified aspirants, Otunba Yemi Farimoyo and Prince Ojajuni Eniola, however, still have the option to send their grievances, if any, to the appeal committee.

    “So, I hereby congratulate you all for a successful primary and wish you all journey mercies to your destination,” Ayodele said.

    In an acceptance speech, the LP candidate, Dr Olorunfemi, said he would embark on welfarist programmes if elected as the governor of Ondo State.

    According to him, Labour Party, being a socialist-oriented political party, will focus on governance that reflects people because “we are people-centred.”

    “Therefore, we are going to be working assiduously on a four-point agenda of health, education, employment creation and massive infrastructural development, using local resources, particularly direct labour system.

    “We will ensure prudent utilisation of funds and ensure even distribution of resources, especially among the poorest of the poor, while making sure that the middle class is appropriately populated,” Olorunfemi said.

  • Ondo 2024: Ajayi emerges PDP governorship candidate

    Ondo 2024: Ajayi emerges PDP governorship candidate

    Mr Agboola Ajayi, a former deputy governor of Ondo State, has emerged the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) for the Nov. 16 poll in the state.

    Ajayi, one of the seven aspirants that contested for the ticket, polled 264 votes and his closest co-contender, Mr  Kolade Akinjo had 157 votes while Mr Olusola Ebiseni came third with 99 votes.

    Mr Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the Chairman of the seven-man 2024 PDP Governorship Primary Election Committee, declared Ajayi winner after the exercise on Thursday in Akure.

    Ewhrudjakpo, the deputy governor of Bayelsa, said “Ajayi having satisfied the requirements stipulated by the electoral guidelines of the party is therefore declared the winner.”

    He  explained that 623 delegates voted out of expected 627 delegates across the 18 local government areas of the state.

    According to him, 621 votes were valid while there were two invalid votes.

    Reacting, Ajayi thanked the party for conducting a free, fair and credible election that would spur the party to victory in Nov.16 poll.

    He asked all members of the party to work with him in order to ensure a landslide victory in the forthcoming election.

    Ajayi, who was deputy governor during the first term of the late governor Rotimi Akeredolu,  said that a united PDP would defeat the ruling All Progressives Party (APC).

    The former deputy governor, who was the governorship candidate of the Zenith Labour Party ( ZLP) in 2020, promised  to bring every member of the party together.

    “This victory is for PDP members and democracy.  I commend the committee for conducting a free, fair and credible election.

    “It is a result that cannot be compared with other party. Nobody is complaining.

    “I will try my best to bring all aggrieved members together so that we can coast to victory in Nov. 16,” he said.

    Other aspirants that contested the primary are: Mr  Adeolu Akinwumi who got 64 votes, Mr Bamidele Akingboye had 24 votes while Mr Bosun Arebuwa had 2 votes, and Mr  John Mafo got 9 votes.

    All the aspirants hail from the Ondo Southern Senatorial District.

  • Ondo 2024: Mimiko emerges ZLP candidate

    Ondo 2024: Mimiko emerges ZLP candidate

    Abbas Mimiko, younger brother of a former governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko, has emerged as the governorship candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) in the Nov. 16 election in the state.

    Olusegun Mimiko, a medical doctor, was the governor of the state from 2009 to 2017.

    Abass Mimiko emerged ZLP candidate through affirmation in the party’s primary held on Wednesday at the state party secretariat in Akure.

    Addressing party faithful, Mimiko said he would focus more on education, health, economy and security if elected.

    The ZLP governorship candidate said his brother was in support of his ambition despite being in another political party.

    He also said that ZLP would be a force to be reckoned with in the governorship election.

    “We will ensure affordable quality education, industrialisation, housing and free health services for all residents,” he said.

    Before the primary, the party held a state congress where Mr Cornelius Akintoye emerged as the new state chairman of ZLP.

    In his remarks, Mr Yahaya Wakama, the National Secretary of ZLP, said the party was ready to take over the state from the ruling party, urging members to work hard for its victory.
    “Let me remind us that the days ahead will be even more demanding and disturbing, but we cannot give up.

    “We must remain the voices of our people and work for their betterment.

    “As we choose our governor today let us bear this in mind, while he will be our torchbearer, he cannot achieve anything by himself he will need us. So we must all roll up our sleeves.

    “The journey has begun and the work has started. No one can be a bystander and indeed no one should be a bystander. We must have all hands on deck.

    “That is the only way we can achieve our desired result,” he said.

  • Why APC may lose Ondo 2024 governorship election – Former Speaker

    Why APC may lose Ondo 2024 governorship election – Former Speaker

    Mr Bamidele Oloyeloogun, a former Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, says the All Progressives Congress(APC) may lose the Nov. 16 governorship election if Saturday’s primary is not cancelled.

    The former Speaker, who is a chieftain APC, stated this at a news conference in Akure on Tuesday.

    Oloyeloogun was the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly from 2017 to 2023, and represented Ifedore State Constituency from 2011 to 2023.

    Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa emerged as the candidate of APC for the Nov. 16 governorship election, having scored 48,569 votes in the poll, to defeat other 15 aspirants.

    Usman Ododo, the Chairman of the Governorship Primary Election Committee and Governor of Kogi, declared Aiyedatiwa as the winner of the primary on Monday.

    The former Speaker, however, described the conduct of the primary as “sham and fraud” against the party and its members in the state.

    He warned that if the April 20 primary was not nullified by the APC leadership, the party “will lose” the Nov. 16 governorship election in the state.

    Said he: “As a leader in APC in Ondo State, l want to warn that if the purported April 20 primary is not cancelled, APC will lose the Nov. 16 governorship election.

    “It is on record including that of the Independent National Electoral Commission, that there was no ward out of the 203 wards in the state that election was held, they just manufactured figures.

    “The evidence is that, today our members are not jubilating because the process that led to the announcement and declaration of the winner was a fraud perpetrated against them.

    “Today in Ondo State, APC members have their placard in their heart and they will display it during the Nov. 16 governorship election no matter the level of intimidation.

    “As someone who had contested election four times and won, I know the implications of the charade called primary on Saturday.

    “Those who came to Ondo State to perpetrate this evil called primary against our members should be held accountable when the chips are down and the seed germinates in November.”

    Oloyeloogun appealed to President Bola Tinubu, as the leader of the party, to salvage the party by ensuring the cancellation of the primary.

    “President Bola Tinubu is the leader of the party and should urgently weigh in on this issue to prevent the party from losing the November governorship election.

    “It was this type of fraud that was perpetrated by the Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State in 2007 that emboldened Dr Segun Mimiko to join the Labour Party and the party recorded a huge success in the state,” the former lawmaker noted.

  • Ondo APC Primary: Appeals committee receives 3 petitions

    Ondo APC Primary: Appeals committee receives 3 petitions

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Appeal Committee says it has received three petitions in respect of  the just concluded governorship primary  in Ondo State.

    The Gov. Usman Ododo led committee that supervised conduct of the election declared Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa winner.

    Aiyedatiwa, who contested against 16 other aspirants, was declared the party’s candidate for the Nov. 16 governorship election.

    Addressing a news conference, on Monday in Akure, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, the head of the five-member appeal committee, said that petitions were received from Mr Olugbenga Edema, Mr  Jimi Odimayo and  Mr Wale Akinterinwa.

    Abubakar, a former governor of Bauchi state said that aspirants’ complaints were that the primary did not hold across the 203 wards in the state and the process was fraught with irregularities.

    “So far, we have received three petitions; one from Olugbenga Edema, Jimmy Odimayo and the last one from Adewale Akinterinwa.

    “The situation I met on ground was an inconclusive election that needed to be repeated in one local government.

    “They were able to repeat election in that local government and by early this morning, they were able to declare the results of the primary.

    “It is traditional in APC to set up a committee like this, in order to follow up on the fallout of the primary election.

    “It’s as a result of this that I invited the gentlemen of the press to be here today, so that I can announce to them, the presence of this committee and the readiness of this committee to receive whatever complaints, as a fallout from the primary election,” the committee head said.

    Abubakar said that the committee would be expecting more petitions from other aggrieved aspirants between Monday and Tuesday afternoon.

    According to him, the secretary of the committee, Mr Obiocha Israel, will be available at the APC secretariat in Akure for two days to receive petitions.

    “The committee will be here till on Tuesday to collect whatever complaints that may be.

    “Let me use this opportunity to assure members of our party that this committee intends to be thorough and transparent in treating any complaint that we will receive.

    “I can assure you that within a space of few days, we will consider total number of petitions we received and render a report to the national headquarters of our party, before the party takes a final decision on the issue of the primary.

    “I am calling on all the aspirants that have complaint(s) to please, feel free to forward it to us. We have since established our office at the headquarters of the party,” he said.

  • Ondo 2024: Destiny has placed Aiyedatiwa over other aspirants – APC Chieftain

    Ondo 2024: Destiny has placed Aiyedatiwa over other aspirants – APC Chieftain

    A chieftain of the APC in Ondo State, Mr Femi Adekanmbi, says destiny has placed Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa as a governorship aspirant over others jostling for the seat in the state.

    Adekanmbi, in a statement on Tuesday in Akure, said the governor was ordained to lead the state, especially at this crucial time.

    The chieftain who pledged support, promised to work tirelessly for Aiyedatiwa in the party’s governorship primaries and the poll.

    “We have received the signal to give  Aiyedatiwa  absolute support for both the primaries and the main gubernatorial  election.

    “Other aspirants  are eminently qualified to lead the state as the  governor but destiny has placed  Aiyedatiwa ahead of them.

    “Divine  providence has made Aiyedatiwa the governor of Ondo state, and there’s nothing anyone can do about it.

    “The governor is doing well, and I am giving him my support to secure a fresh mandate to enable him to continue his development strides.

    “I’ve directed my team across the state to go all out and work for him,” he stated.

    He appealed to other aspirants not to see the party’s primary election  as a war but rather, as a family affair where only one person would be elected as its   candidate.

    Adekanmbi urged all party members to stop the campaign of hatred presently going on among  supporters of the governorship  aspirants.

    “We should not be seen fighting one another . This primary election should not divide us.

    “I also urge Aiyedatiwa to be cautious of those claiming to love him now.

    “Those who have suddenly become his accidental supporters now are those that wanted him impeached before the death of former Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

    “I urge the governor to continue the good works started by him, and lay down lasting legacy for himself in the state with developmental projects and programmes,” he said.

  • Ondo 2024: APC guber aspirants receive clearance certificates

    Ondo 2024: APC guber aspirants receive clearance certificates

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that all 16 aspirants jostling to fly its flag in the Nov. 16 governorship election have been screened and cleared to contest in the party’s primary on April 20.

    Alhaji Sulaiman Arugungu, the party’s National Organising Secretary said this on Monday in Abuja while presenting Clearance Certificates to the aspirants at the party’s national secretariat.

    “I am delighted to have you all in the party’s secretariat to present to you screening clearance certificates to enable you participate in the April 20, Ondo State Governorship primary election.

    “The screening committee has found you worthy to participate in the exercise,” he said.

    The Sen. Joshua Lidani-led seven-man screening committee on Friday, gave all the 16 aspirants a clean bill to contest the party’s governorship primary election.

    The party is expected to pick its governorship candidate at the primary election in line with its amended schedule of activities and timetable ahead of  the forthcoming Nov. 16, Ondo State governorship election.

    The aspirants cleared include: the state’s incumbent governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, former National Vice Chairman (South West) Duerimini Kekemeke, and Olusoji Adewale Ehinlanwo.

    Others are: former member of the State House of Assembly, Olugbenga Edema; business magnate, Sen. Jimoh Ibrahim; Mrs Judith Omogoroye, Maj.- Gen. Felix Ohunyeye (rtd), Jimi Odimayo, Morayo Lebi, and Diran Iyantan.

    Also given a clean bill to contest in the primary are Ifeoluwa Oyedele, Mrs Funmilayo Waheed-Adekojo, Mayowa Akinfolarin, former Commissioner for Finance, Adewale Akinterinwa; Chief Olusola Oke and Prof. Francis Faduyile.

  • APC clears 16 aspirants for Ondo Governorship primary

    APC clears 16 aspirants for Ondo Governorship primary

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has cleared the 16 aspirants seeking its ticket to contest the Nov. 20 Ondo State Governorship election.

    The seven-man screening committee, led by Sen. Joshua Lidani, gave all the aspirants the nod to contest the April 20 primary election.

    Among those cleared was Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa,

    A report submitted to the party’s Directorate of Organisation in Abuja on Saturday, said the committee considered eligibility, suitability, character, support base, among other areas.

    Also cleared are Isaac Kekemeke, former APC National Vice-Chairman (South West), Olusoji Ehinlanwo, a former member of the House of Assembly, Olugbenga Edema, and Sen. Jimoh Ibrahim.

    Others are Mrs Funmilayo Waheed-Adekojo, Akinfolarin Samuel, former Commissioner for Finance, Adewale Akinterinwa, Chief Olusola Oke, Ohunyeye Felix and Morayo Lebi.

    Also cleared were Garvey Iyanjan; Prof. Francis Faduyile, Mrs Judith Omogoroye, Ifeoluwa Oyedele and  Okunjimi  John.

    “All aspirants demonstrated a willingness to support the aspirant that emerged as the party’s candidate for the Nov. 2024 governorship election,” the report indicated.

    It urged the party’s leadership to ensure that the April 20 primary elections is free, fair, credible and acceptable to all.

  • Ondo 2024: Guber aspirant, Oyedele seeks consensus candidacy

    Ondo 2024: Guber aspirant, Oyedele seeks consensus candidacy

    By Felix Ojo

    Hon. Ifeoluwa Oyedele, an aspirant for the 2024 Ondo State Governorship election has called for the All Progressive Alliance Party (APC) to choose him as the consensus flagbearer of the party.

    In an interview with the Ondo State Media Practitioner Association of Nigeria (OSMEPA) in Abuja, Ifeoluwa discussed his preparedness, competency, experience, vision, and all of the reasons other contenders and the party should consider giving him the party ticket.

    According to Engr. Ifeoluwa, he is miles ahead of the other contenders for the ticket in any available criteria.

    “For those who have monitored strides in the last eight years, it is not just happenstance that I have been awarded Fellows of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Fellows of the Society of Nigerian Electrical Engineers, Fellows of the Society of Power Engineering, and Fellows of the Academy of Engineering.

    “For you to be a Fellow of the Academy of Engineering, there are criteria: you must have written papers and attain a certain level academically.

    He made it known that he has a pedigree both in the private and public sectors. He has served the party in different capacities. And as a grassroots politician, he stands tall ahead.

    “I am a foundation member of the All Progressive Congress (APC). I was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), and by that reasoning, I was a member of the APC merger committee, where I was fortunate to be the one who designed the logo of the new party, APC.

    “I was a member of the constitution-drafting subcommittee in the merger committee. I also became a member of the Constitution Review Committee.

    “Also, I was the first coordinator of the CPC in Ondo State, as at the time the former president Buhari, then known as the General, was an aspirant in the APC. When he emerged as the candidate of the party, I was also the state coordinator of the Buhari/Osinbajo presidential campaign organization in Ondo State.

    “I have been on several committees, and I have served this party meritoriously as the Chairman of the Oyo State Congress Committee and the Chairman of the membership registration of Kebbi State; I was a member of three to four Presidential Campaign Councils; I served in various committees.

    “I was also the Secretary of the Ondo State Presidential Campaign Council in 2019. In 2023, I was the leading aspirant for the governorship seat in Ondo State.

    “But after the intervention of the party hierarchy in the state, I decided to step down for the then APC governor in Ondo State, the now-dead Odunayo Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, my brother and friend of many years. I have to step down for him at the APC primary in 2020.” Said, Hon. Ifeoluwa.

    Hon. Ife wished that, by his ethical standards, experience, and positions held in the party, other aspirants were supposed to step down for him as a consensus candidate.

    The party has scheduled April 25th, 2024, for the party primary election, with 15 aspirants, jostling to bear the flag.