Former Ondo State Deputy Governor, Ajayi Agboola, has clinched the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) ticket for the forthcoming November governorship election in the state.
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Agboola emerged victorious at the party’s primary held on Wednesday, garnering a total of 264 votes.
His closest contender, former House of Representatives member Kolade Akinjo, trailed with 157 votes.
The fiercely contested primary saw the participation of seven aspirants, with a total of 621 delegates accredited to cast their votes.
Other notable results include Chief Sola Ebiseni securing 99 votes, Adeolu Akinwumi with 64 votes, Bamidele Akingboye obtaining 24 votes, while Mr. John Mafo and Mr. Bosun Arebuwa garnered nine and two votes respectively.
Ahead of the primary, the Chairman of the PDP primary election committee, and Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, pledged to oversee a transparent, equitable, and credible electoral process.
Agboola’s political journey has been marked by his tenure as deputy governor to the late Rotimi Akeredolu, which lasted until 2020. Following unsuccessful attempts to impeach him, Agboola defected to the PDP amidst the build-up to the 2020 governorship election.
Although he contested on the platform of the Zenith Labour Party after failing to secure the PDP’s nomination, Agboola now stands poised to confront the incumbent governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who was Akeredolu’s former deputy, in the November poll.
Aiyedatiwa had previously clinched the governorship candidacy of the All Progressives Congress (APC), setting the stage for a compelling electoral contest in Ondo State.
