The Ondo State Governorship Race Heats Up as APC Sees Surge in Aspirants

The forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State slated for November 16, 2024, has sparked intense interest, with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) witnessing a surge in aspirants. A total of 20 contenders from the APC have thrown their hats into the ring to challenge the incumbent Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa in the primary election scheduled for next month. This development has set the stage for a highly competitive and unpredictable contest.

Among the notable aspirants within the APC are former Commissioner for Finance in the State, Mr. Wale Akinterinwa; former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Mayowa Akinfolarin; former member of the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Olugbenga Edema; two-time governorship candidate in the state, Olusola Oke; former Director of Finance at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Brigadier-General Olumide Ohunyeye (rtd); and business mogul and incumbent Senator representing Ondo South Senatorial District, Jimoh Ibrahim.

However, concerns have been raised among the aspirants regarding the potential influence of President Bola Tinubu in the selection process. As a key figure within the APC, President Tinubu’s endorsement could play a decisive role in determining the party’s candidate for the governorship election.

The incumbent Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who assumed office on December 27, 2023, following the death of his predecessor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, is also in the race to secure the APC ticket. However, the national secretariat’s declaration of no automatic ticket for the governor has added pressure on Aiyedatiwa, prompting him to seek public endorsement for his candidacy.

Despite Aiyedatiwa’s efforts to secure support, six members of the House of Representatives caucus of the APC from Ondo State recently wrote to President Tinubu, accusing the governor of creating a crisis within the party and showing disdain for his late predecessor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu. This development has further intensified the political dynamics within the APC ahead of the primary election.

In a twist of events, a former Chief Press Secretary to the late Governor, Richard Olatunde, has cautioned Aiyedatiwa against exploiting Akeredolu’s name for political gain. Olatunde emphasized that Akeredolu had not anointed Aiyedatiwa as his successor and that the relationship between the two had become strained before Akeredolu’s passing.

Furthermore, the endorsement of Aiyedatiwa by some members of the Ondo State Assembly has also faced opposition, with 13 lawmakers distancing themselves from the endorsement and expressing disappointment in the Speaker, Hon Olamide Oladiji, for his role in the declaration of support.

As the political landscape in Ondo State continues to evolve, the race for the APC ticket remains fiercely contested. With the APC having more aspirants than other parties in the state, the battle for the governorship seat is expected to be a closely watched affair, with implications for the state’s political future.

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