By Banji Ayoola
An ex-Deputy to the departed Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, Chief Agboola Ajayi, has emerged as the flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the November 16 Governorship Election in the state.
He was declared winner of the party’s primary held on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at the International Event Centre, popularly called ‘The Dome’, in Akure, the state capital.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Primary Election Committee Chairman, and Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, announced the result.
He said that Ajayi scored 264 of the 621 votes cast to beat his closest rival, Hon. Kolade Akinjo with 157 votes.
An Afenifere chieftain and former commissioner, Chief Sola Ebiseni, followed with 99 votes, while a former SSA to former Governor Olusegun Mimiko, Mr. Adeolu Akinwunmi polled 64 votes.
Businessman and philanthropist Mr. Bamidele Akingboye scored 24 votes; former Deputy Governorship Candidate and ex-Information Commissioner, Prince John Ola Mafo polled 9 votes, while chartered accountant and retired civil servant, Mr. Bosun Arebuwa scored 2 votes.
Ajayi served as Akeredolu’s deputy in his first term. The incumbent Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa replaced Ajayi in Akeredolu’s second term. After failed attempts to impeach Ajayi, he moved to the opposition PDP.
Alfred Agboola Ajayi – Profile
The flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the November 16 Governorship Election in Ondo State, Chief Alfred Agboola Ajayi was born at Kiribo, an Apoi town in Ese Odo Local Government Area of the state, on September 24, 1968 to Chief Newton Ajayi and Mrs Rebecca Ogunjinte (née Olubusade).
He attended the Community High School, Kiribo Town, and later Methodist High School, Okitipupa LGA.
Thereafter, he went to Igbinedion University, Okada in Edo State from where he graduated with Bachelor of Law (LL.B) degree at 2nd Class Upper division. He was called to the Bar in 2010 after graduating from the Nigerian Law School in Abuja.
A politician, lawyer, and businessman, he served as Deputy to the departed Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu in his first term between 2017 and 2021. He succeeded Alhaji Lasisi Oluboyo.
The incumbent Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa replaced him as Deputy Governo.
Due to irreconcilable differences with his principal and the APC, and after failed attempts to impeach him, he resigned from the ruling APC, which he said had ‘become a poisoned space’ on June 21, 2020. He also quit as Deputy Governor, and moved to the PDP.
The incumbent Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa replaced him as Deputy Governor.
Ater losing the PDP Governorship primaries to Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, Ajayi moved to the ZLP to fly that party’s ticket. Eventually he became the 2020 Governorship Candidate of the ZLP led by ex-Governor Olusegun Mimiko.
He started his political career on the platform of Social Democratic Party, (SDP), and served as its chairman in the Old Apoi Ward 1.
Ajayi joined the PDP in 1998 where he served as:
. Secretary of Ilaje/Ese Odo LGA (1998 – 1999),
. Supervisor for Agriculture for Ese-Odo LGA (1999 – 2001)
, Supervisor for Works and Transport for Ese-Odo LGA (2001 – 2003),
. Caretaker Chairman, Ese Odo LGA (2003 – 2004),
. Chairman of Ese-Odo LGA (2004 – 2007),
. Member House of Representatives representing the Ilaje/Ese Odo Federal Constituency,
. Chairman House Committee on NDDC (2007 – 2010).
They won the election and were sworn in as Governor and Deputy Governor of Ondo State on February 24, 2017.
He contested the October 2020 Governorship Election with Mr. Gboye Adegbenro as his running mate on the ZLP platform. They lost to the departed Governor Akeredolu and his Deputy, the incumbent Governor Aiyedatiwa, who were sworn in for their second term on February 25, 2021.
