Banji Ayoola
Peace reigns today as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP delegates vote to pick its candidate in the November 16 Governorship Election in Ondo State.
The party’s rancour-free primary is ongoing at the International Event Centre, popularly called ‘The Dome’, in Akure the state capital, where 627 delegates from across the state’s 203 wards, and national delegates, are voting to elect the flagbearer.
Seven aspirants including ex-Deputy Governor to the departed Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, Chief Agboola Ajayi; former Deputy Governorship Candidate and former information Commissioner, Prince John Ola Mafo; an Afenifere chieftain and former Commissioner in the state, Chief Sola Ebiseni; former SSA on Youths to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo and former two-term House of Representatives member, Hon Kolade Akinjo; former SSA to ex-Governor Olusegun Mimiko, Mr. Adeolu Akinwumi; businessman and philanthropist, Otunba Bamidele Akingboye; and a chartered accountant and retired civil servant, Mr. Bosun Arebuwa.
Accreditation of delegates started at about 1.00 pm. Voting followed immediately. It started from Akoko North East Local Government.
As of 4.16 pm today, delegates from six of the state’s 18 Local Governments had voted. The six are Akoko North East, Akoko North West, Akoko South East, Akoko South West, Akure North, and Akure South Local Governments.
Delegates from the Idanre Local Government took their turn at this time.
A seven-member Primary Election Committee, headed by Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, conducted the exercise.
The delegates made of three from each ward, are joining their national counterparts to pick the party’s candidate through the direct primary election.
They vote by their Local Governments. Altogether, there are 18 Local Governments in the state.
Officers and men drawn from the South West Security Network (Amotekun), the Nigerian Police Force, DSS, and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, provided security at the event held amid camaraderie.
PDP’s green, red, and white colors adorn the ballot boxes, voters’ cubicles, and the venue.
