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Tag: Ondo State

  • Ondo guber: PDP screens 7 aspirants

    Ondo guber: PDP screens 7 aspirants

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday screened seven governorship aspirants for its upcoming primary election in Ondo.

    The screening exercise took place at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

    The aspirants included Adeolu Akinwumi, Chief Olusola Ebiseni, Otunba Bamidele Akingboye, Kolade Akinjo, Elder Bosun Arebuwa, John Mafo and Agboola Ajayi.

    The aspirants were screened by Sen. Sam Egwu led Screening Committee with Sen. Isa Lau, Chief Emmanuel Ogidi, Mrs Olivia Dazyman, ⁠Tanko Beji, Mrs Gladys Ashemuke as members.

    Others were Chief Rahman Owokoniran as Secretary and Caroline Akinsete as Administrative Secretary.

    Egwu, who is a former governor of Ebonyi, told newsmen around 3.30pm that all the aspirants presented themselves for screening.

    He, however, said some of the aspirants, whose documents were not complete, promised to come back to complete the aspect of documentation.

    He said that the committee would present its report to the party after the conclusion of the exercise.

    “We feel like everyone should have a level playing ground, with no opportunity to say they were screened out deliberately.

    “The screening is going on till 5pm pm today. PDP is the party that wants to give people opportunity provided you play by the rules of the game.

    “If a candidate tells us he forgot a document and he is going to bring his document before 5pm, Why not?

    “We don’t want to give them the impression that the party has a candidate it supports. Only few persons are involved in this case,” he said.

    However, Egwu refused to speak again with newsmen after the conclusion of the exercise by 6pm.

    Though, none of the aspirants spoke with newsmen, only two of them, Ebiseni and Ajayi displayed their clearance certificates before the camera.

  • Aiyedatiwa nominates 12 new commissioners

    Aiyedatiwa nominates 12 new commissioners

    Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has forwarded another list of 12 commissioner-nominees to the State House of Assembly for confirmation.

    The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Ebenezer Adeniyan, stated this in a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Akure.

    Recall Aiyedatiwa had on March 1, 2024 sworn in six commissioners.

    “The letter containing the list of the nominees was addressed to the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji, signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Tayo Oluwatuyi,” Adeniyan said.

    The nominees are Pastor Segun Ayerin, Mr Olaolu Akindolire, Mr Hamidu Takuro, Dr Banji Ajaka, Mr Boye Ologbese, Mr Sunday Akinwalere, Mrs Lola Fagbemi, Mr Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye and Mr Rasheed Badmus.

    Others are Mr Olayato Aribo, Mr Adewale Akinlosotu and Mr Gbenga Olaniyi.

    Adeniyan said the governor urged the Assembly to give immediate consideration to the confirmation of the nominees.

  • Ondo guber: APC commences sales of forms to aspirants

    Ondo guber: APC commences sales of forms to aspirants

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) says it plans to commence sales of Nomination and Expression of Interest Forms for Ondo State Governorship aspirants on Wednesday, March 27.

    This is contained in the APC amended schedule of activities and timetable for the governorship election, signed by Mr Emma Enekwu, the Chairman of the State Primary Election Committee on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Enekwu said that the sales of the Nomination and Expression of Interest forms would start on March 27 and end on April 3 while screening of the aspirants will hold from April 11 to April 12.

    He said that the Delegate Congress would hold on Monday, April 15 while the primary election would hold on April 20.

    The Nomination and Expression of Interest forms would be sold for N50 million.

  • Reactions trail death of Ondo APC governorship aspirant

    Reactions trail death of Ondo APC governorship aspirant

    Gov Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has expressed sadness over the death of Dr Paul Akintelure, an All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in the State.

    Akintelure’s death was announced by the family spokesperson, Mr Oladapo Akintelure, in a statement on Tuesday in Akure.

    The statement, titled “Akintelure takes a bow”, said Akintelure who died at the age of 61, was a medical doctor, philanthropist, an APC aspirant, and the Ondo State deputy governorship candidate of the defunct ACN in 2012.

    “Dr Paul Akintelure departed from us early this morning in Lagos, leaving behind a legacy of service, dedication, and commitment to the people of Ondo State.

    “As a family, we understand his sudden enigmatic demise has left a void in our hearts, and that of his friends, associates, supporters, and political loyalists.

    “It is in light of this, we seek calm and, most importantly, your prayers, as we jointly pray for the repose of the soul of Dr. Paul Akintelure,” the statement said.

    Aiyedatiwa, in a statement by his spokesperson, Ebenezer Adeniyan, in Akure, described the death of Akintelure as shocking and devastating.

    The governor commiserated with the Akintelure family, the people of Okitipupa Local Government Area, and “the progressive fold in Ondo State”.

    “Akintelure was a wonderful human being and was a core progressive. He was very consistent and loyal to the tenets of progressive politics in Ondo State and Nigeria.

    “He was a friend and associate. He conducted his private business and public affairs with so much decorum and humility to the admiration of many.

    “We have lost a complete gentleman. He will be greatly missed,” the governor said.

    According to Aiyedatiwa, the death of Akintelure at this critical time in the life of the state is saddening.

    Another APC governorship aspirant, Chief Olusola Oke, described Akintelure’s passing as “a further depletion of the clan of the finest in the politics of the country”.

    Oke, in a statement he personally signed, said Akintelure enriched politics with dignity and decency.

    “It is my prayer that the departed shall find repose in the bosom of the Lord Almighty.

    “May God give all members of his immediate family, friends and political associates the fortitude to handle the great loss,” he said.

    Ondo APC mourns passing of governorship aspirant

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has expressed sadness over the death of one of its gubernatorial aspirants, Dr Paul Akintelure.

    Akintelure, a medical doctor from Igbotako in Okitipupa Local Government Area of the state, died in the early hours of Tuesday in Lagos during a brief illness.

    Expressing grief, Mr Ade Adetimehin, the state Chairman of APC, in a statement in Akure, described the deceased as personal friend, with whom he had good relationship over the years, saying the news was shocking.

    Adetimehin said that Akintelure was a governorship aspirant, getting ready to participate in the party’s primary scheduled for April.

    According to him, Akintelure was a highly refined and consistent political figure, whose position for being in politics is to build the people and the state.

    The party’s chairman added that the contributions of the departed political leader, to the development and stability of APC in the state would not be forgotten.

    “Like other governorship aspirants, he was optimistic of victory, come April. He had many other plans, death was never part of them.

    “The State chapter condoles with the immediate family, Igbotako Community, his political associates, and the Nigerian Medical Association. May his soul rest in peace,” he said.

    Ondo APC governorship aspirant suspends political activities over Akintelure’s death

    Mr Wale Akinterinwa, an aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo, has suspended his political activities.

    This followed the sudden death of another aspirant, Dr Paul Akintelure, who died in Lagos in the early hours of Tuesday during a brief illness.

    A statement in Akure by Mr Segun Ajiboye, the Spokesperson of the Wale Akinterinwa Campaign Organisation, said that Akinterinwa’s political activities which was expected to start on Tuesday had been put on hold.

    ”The campaign activities earlier planned to kick off today, Tuesday, March 26, 2024, with a praise worship in my country home in Ile-Oluji, has been suspended in honour of a friend and comrade.

    “I am saddened by the news of the passing of a friend and comrade.

    “Following this sad incident, I have decided to suspend all political activities of our campaign organisation.

    “I pray God to console his family, friends and the APC in the state and to give them the fortitude to bear this great loss,” the statement said.

  • Ondo 2024: APC pegs form at ₦50m to pick governorship candidate Apr 25

    Ondo 2024: APC pegs form at ₦50m to pick governorship candidate Apr 25

    The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Ondo state chapter has released its timetable and schedule of activities leading to the party’s selection of a candidate on April 25, 2024.

    This is following the November 16, 2024 governorship election schedule to hold in the State.

    APC’s National Organising Secretary, Sulaimon Argungu signed and  released the party’s timetable late Monday.

    According to the party, the sale of nominations, expression of interest and delegates forms for contestants will begin on April 3 and end on April 10, 2024, while primary election is slated for April 25, 2024.

    Like its governorship primary in Edo State which produced Monday Okpebholo as the flag bearer, the APC pegged the price for the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms at N10m and N40m respectively for Ondo.

    The party said female aspirants and persons living with disabilities are to pay for Expression of Interest while the Nomination Form is free.

    “Youths from 25 to 40 years are to purchase Expression of Interest forms with a 50% discount on Nomination Forms,” the APC stated.

    Some of the top contenders for the APC ticket in Ondo include Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, former Ondo deputy governor, who succeeded the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu after the latter’s death on December 27, 2023. A former Commissioner for Finance in the state, Wale Akinterinwa; as well as Senator representing Ondo South, Jimoh Ibrahim, also want the party’s ticket.

     

  • Ondo 2024: APC announces date to commence sales of forms

    Ondo 2024: APC announces date to commence sales of forms

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) says it will commence sales of its Expression of Interest and Nomination forms for the Ondo State Governorship election from April 3 to April 10.

    Alhaji Suleiman Arugungu, the party’s National Organising Secretary, stated this in a schedule of activities released, on Monday in Abuja, for the forthcoming Ondo State governorship election.

    The Ondo State governorship election has been fixed for November 16,  by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Arugungu said the release of the schedule of activities was in compliance with the Electoral Act 2022 and relevant sections of the Constitution.

    He said the party’s Ondo State governorship primary election would be held on April 25, while the primary election appeal would be on April 26.

    The APC had pegged its expression of interest form for the governorship election at N10,000,000 while the nomination form goes for N50 million.

    Female aspirants and Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs) are to purchase expression of interest form for N10, 000,000 while the nomination form is free.

    Aspirants below 40 years of age, on the other hand, would pay N40 million for the nomination form while the expression of interest form would be free.

    According to the schedule of activities, all aspirants in the governorship race are expected to submit their completed forms by April 12.

    The screening of aspirants jostling for the governorship race begins on April 19 and end on April 20, while screening appeal, delegate congress and delegate congress appeal would hold on April 21, April 22, and April 23 respectively.

  • Ondo governorship election: No decision on zoning yet – PDP

    Ondo governorship election: No decision on zoning yet – PDP

    The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says there is no decision on zoning yet, on the Nov. 16 Ondo State governorship election.

    The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Debo Ologunagba, stated this in Abuja on Thursday, in a statement on the party’s resolutions from the NWC meeting with critical stakeholders from Ondo State.

    Ologunagba said that the NWC thoroughly considered submissions at the meeting and clarified that it had not zoned its ticket to any part or area of the state.

    Ologunagba assured all intending governorship aspirants and all PDP members in the state of a level playing ground in all party nomination processes and activities leading to the election.

    He said that everything would be in accordance with the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017), the Electoral Act, 2022 and the Party Guideline for the Election.

    Ologunagba also gave assurance that the nomination process and activities leading to the election would be all-inclusive, free, fair and transparent in accordance with the provisions of Nigeria and PDP Constitutions.

    He said that the NWC also approved the convening of a special meeting to further ensure reconciliation and unity among party stakeholders in the state.

    The spokesman said that the meeting would comprise party leaders including Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Gov. Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, top party leaders from Ondo State and the NWC.

    He said that the NWC also emphasised the need for all stakeholders to be consistent in display of fidelity to PDP and work together in the greater interest of the party and the people of Ondo State.

    Ologunagba said that the people were looking up to the PDP to rescue their state.

    “The NWC restates its charge to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the state election is free, fair and credible,” he said.

  • Ondo Govt declares 2-day public holiday

    Ondo Govt declares 2-day public holiday

    The Ondo State Government has declared Thursday, Feb. 22 and Friday, Feb. 23 as public holidays in honour of the late former Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu.

    This is contained in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Ebenezer Adeniyan, on Tuesday in Akure.

    Adeniran said the two-day holiday will allow people of the state to honour the late former governor with several programmes billed for both days.

    Akeredolu died in Germany on Dec. 27, 2023 and would be buried on Friday in Owo, his hometown, according to the programme released by the family.

    “The two work-free days will allow the people of the state to participate in the burial activities of the former governor,” the statement said.

  • Ondo NMA gives Aiyedatiwa 7-day ultimatum to implement hazard allowance

    Ondo NMA gives Aiyedatiwa 7-day ultimatum to implement hazard allowance

    The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Ondo State chapter, has given Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa a seven-day ultimatum to resolve the challenges in the state health sector or face industrial disharmony.

    They also demanded the implementation of the federal government’s approved hazard allowance for medical personnel in the state.

    The state NMA Chairman, Dr Omosehin Adeyemi-Osowe, stated these while reading the association’s communiqué to newsmen after their Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) in Akure, on Friday.

    He said the notice became necessary as the health sector in the state had continued to fall below standard.

    The chairman said the sector was also faced with brain drain resulting in some units of the University of Medical Sciences in the state teaching hospitals lacking in medical personnel.

    He said that such units include the Orthopaedics, Burns and Plastic, Ear, Nose and Throat, Mental Health, and Paediatric Surgery.

    Adeyemi-Osowe said that the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital Complex in the state had 22 resident doctors compared to the previous figure of 150.

    “Some weeks ago, eight doctors left the Obstetrics and Gynaecology unit at the state hospital for the same unit in another teaching hospital.

    “The meeting notes with grave concern the non-implementation of the  hazard allowance approved for doctors in the country in December 2021 which has been implemented for federal government doctors in the past 26 months and in some states.

    “Ekiti State has been enjoying it for almost one year now.

    “Ondo State Government approved it in August 2023 but it took over 60 days for it to be circularised.

    “It was eventually done on Oct. 23, 2023, with the implementation period backdated to Oct. 2, 2023; it is now five months, yet no payment has been made by the state government,” he said.

    Adeyemi-Osowe alleged that despite the government’s advertisement for employment of doctors, people were not willing to take up the appointment based on the entry Grade Level 12, step 3, as against GL 13, step 2 approved by the federal government.

    “The OGM enjoins the state government to resolve the issues of non-availability of equipment at some critical units in our teaching hospitals, the CT scan that has been non-functional for over 12 months and lack of ventilators at the ICU.

    “The disparities in the salaries of doctors in Ondo State Civil Service (an oil-producing state) and that of the neighbouring states, especially Ekiti State (a non-oil producing state) should be looked into to bridge the gap, without further delay,” he said.

    The chairman said the association was concerned about the state of the neurosurgery department of the teaching hospital with respect to provision of doctors and consultants.

    The chairman pleaded with religious leaders, traditional rulers and other relevant stakeholders to prevail on government to declare a state of emergency in the health sector for a healthy state.

    He commended his members for still holding forth despite the numerous challenges.

    “Let us continue to give our best for the good people of the state while believing that it shall be better,” he said.

  • Adelami breaks silence on appointment as Ondo Deputy Governor

    Adelami breaks silence on appointment as Ondo Deputy Governor

    The Deputy Governor designate of Ondo State, Dr Olayide Adelami, on Friday in Owo, said his nomination was divinely ordered as he never lobbied for the position.

    Adelami said that he had been pursuing a federal appointment when he was unexpectedly nominated by Gov Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

    The deputy governor designate stated this during a visit to traditional rulers in his hometown of Owo, the headquarters of the Owo Local Government Area of the State on Friday.

    Aiyedatiwa nominated the former deputy clerk of the National Assembly as his deputy after the dissolution of the state cabinet on Wednesday.

    The nomination was subsequently confirmed by the Ondo State House of Assembly on Thursday.

    Adelami stated that the development underscored the unexpected trajectory of his political journey.

    The deputy governor designate,who started his thank-you visit from the palace of the Olowo, Oba Gbadegeshin Ogunoye, also visited the Ojomoluda of Ijebu-Owo, Oba Kofoworola Oladoyinbo, and the Olupenmen of Upenmen, Oba Ebenezer Adewumi-Ogunmolasuyi.

    Other obas visited included the Oloba of Uso, Oba (Dr) Ademola Oyinbade, and the Alale of Idasen, Oba Kokumoa Olotupa.

    Adelami expressed his appreciation to Aiyedatiwa for considering him worthy of the position, despite his name not being among those speculated for the position.

    He thanked the traditional rulers for their support and expressed his gratitude for being appointed to the position with the assurance that he would do everything in his power to bring developmental strides to the state.

    “I never contested for deputy governor; I was looking for a federal appointment when I was called to be a deputy. I do not take this opportunity for granted.

    “Divine providence made this happen. I will serve the people of Ondo State to the best of my ability,” he said.

    The deputy governor pledged to collaborate with the governor in advancing the state and to assist in reconciling any aggrieved party members.

    Ondo Deputy Governor-designate, SSG hold ‘Thank You’ Rally for Aiyedatiwa

    Meanwhile, Ondo State Deputy Governor designate, Dr Olayide Adelami and Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tayo Oluwatuyi, on Friday, held a ‘thank you rally’ to appreciate Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa for their appointments.

    The road rally took off from the Akure Airport, shortly after Aiyedatiwa, who had been out of the state, touched down.

    The rally by supporters of the appointees maŕched from the airport through Oba Ile to Cathedral, passing through Arakale to Government House, Alagbaka, Akure.

    Aiyedatiwa, while addressing people who had gathered at Government House, expressed heartfelt appreciation for the warm welcome accorded to him upon his return to the state capital by the people.

    The governor appreciated his deputy designate and SSG for the show of love and appreciation to him.

    “I want to thank the Deputy Governor designate Dr Adelami for the warm welcome and his unwavering support,” he said.

    Aiyedatiwa said he was meeting Adelami and the SSG for the first time since their appointments.

    “Two days ago, we dissolved the former executive council, not in discord but as part of the necessary transition.

    “I presented the name of Dr Olayide Adelami to the House of Assembly for consideration, and it was approved.

    “The time for a deputy governor has come, because the responsibilities have been immense, and I am grateful for the capable hands of Adelami and the prompt action of the SSG, Hon. Oluwatuyi, who has already begun his duties,” he said.

    Aiyedatiwa said that he was particularly happy with the jubilation and appreciation that met the announcement of Adelami as deputy governor nominee in Owo town (Home of Akeredolu) with calls he had received from the time of announcement.

    He said similarly, the people of Akure, the hometown of the SSG, also celebrated widely, underscoring the desire for his success and the depth of their love for him

    “I am deeply moved by the outpouring of support and the warm welcome orchestrated by deputy governor designate and the SSG.

    “Their initiative to express appreciation through this rally speaks volumes about their dedication to serving the people and fostering unity within the state,” the governor said.