A former Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi, has clinched the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s ticket for the November 16, 2024 governorship election in the Sunshime State.

Ajayi, a former deputy governor during the first tenure of the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, trounced six other aspirants to get the PDP’s ticket.

He was declared winner of the indirect primary held at the International Culture and Events Centre in Akure on Thursday.

Ajayi trounced Bamidele Akingboye, Adeolu Akinwumi, Sola Ebiseeni, John Mafo, Kolade Akinjo and Bosun Arebuwa.

Of the total valid votes of 619, Ajayi polled 264, followed by Akinjo who got 157 votes and Ebiseeni who scored 99 votes.

Ajayi would lock horns with other candidates including Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa who recently secured the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for the November 16, 2024 election in the state.

Ajayi left the APC after a fallout with Akeredolu in 2021. He was Ondo deputy governor between February 2017 and February 2021. Ajayi later went to Zenith Labour Party and became the party’s governorship candidate in the 2020 election in the state. He competed against Akeredolu but lost.

Interestingly, Aiyedatiwa was also a former deputy governor of Ondo State, but during the second term of Akeredolu. Aiyedatiwa was sworn in last December after his principal’s death.

Voting has commenced in the governorship primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State on Thursday.

The voting was preceded by the accreditation of delegates in Akure, the state capital.

Seven aspirants were cleared by the Senator Sam-Egwu-led screening committee to contest in the indirect primary election.

The election, held at the International Culture and Events Centre in Akure, has former deputy governor of the state, Agboola Ajayi, as aspirant.

Others are Bamidele Akingboye, Adeolu Akinwumi, Sola Ebiseeni, John Mafo, Kolade Akinjo and Bosun Arebuwa.

According to a statement issued by the Publicity Secretary of PDP in the state, Kennedy Peretei, the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, is the chairman of the seven-man committee to conduct the primary election.

Peretei noted that 627 delegates from the 18 local government areas of the state are expected to vote in the election.

He added that the accreditation of delegates is scheduled to commence by 10:00 in the morning.

Abdullahi Ganduje, National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), has appealed to governorship aspirants in its April 20 primary election in Ondo state to join forces and work for the party’s victory in the forthcoming Nov. 16 governorship election.

He made the appeal on Thursday in Abuja when the aspirants met with members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) at the instance of Ganduje.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the state’s incumbent governor was declared winner of the election.


He emerged winner after polling 48,569 votes to beat his closest rival Mayowa Akinfolarin, who polled 15,343 votes, while Olusola Oke came third with 14,865 votes.

The APC governorship primary election was contested by 16 aspirants.

“The purpose of this meeting is to appeal to us all not to dwell on what happened during the primary, or what is correct or what is not.

“Dwelling on that, will lead to paralysis and the controversy will not favour us considering the galaxy of politicians here, because I know we have lawyers, engineers and other professionals here.

“We are mere stakeholders, but the the state belongs to you all and I know that our desire is for our party to continue to be a ruling party in Ondo State,” the APC national chairman said.

He added that the meeting was to appeal to the aspirants to work with the party and its candidate to ensure it retained its position as the ruling party in the state.


Ganduje said the aspirants should not see themselves as losers, because there is always a second chance.


He recalled how he first contested election in 1999 and lost, but had to recontest 16 years later to become governor of Kano State.

“You are not lost aspirants, but aspirants that will be successful next time,” the APC national chairman said.

NAN reports that the meeting which went into a closed-door after Ganduje’s opening remarks, had in attendance Olusoji Ehinlanwo, a former member of the State House of Assembly, Olugbenga Edema and business magnate, Sen. Jimoh Ibrahim.


Other aspirants in attendance were Mrs Judith Omogoroye, Maj.- Gen. Felix Ohunyeye (rtd), Jimi Odimayo, Morayo Lebi, Diran Iyantan and Ifeoluwa Oyedele.

Also, Mrs Funmilayo Waheed-Adekojo, Mayowa Akinfolarin, former Commissioner for Finance, Adewale Akinterinwa; Chief Olusola Oke and Prof. Francis Faduyile were present.(NAN)