Agboola Ajayi, a former Deputy Governor of Ondo State, has emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate for the upcoming governorship election in the state, scheduled for November 16, 2024.
Ajayi secured the PDP ticket after defeating six other aspirants during the party’s indirect primary held at the International Culture and Events Centre in Akure.
Ajayi, who previously served as deputy governor during the first tenure of the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, won the primary by polling 264 out of the total valid votes of 619. His closest rival, Kolade Akinjo, secured 157 votes, followed by Sola Ebiseeni with 99 votes.
Among those Ajayi defeated are Bamidele Akingboye, Adeolu Akinwumi, Sola Ebiseeni, John Mafo, Kolade Akinjo, and Bosun Arebuwa.
Ajayi’s victory sets the stage for a fierce electoral battle, as he will be contesting against other candidates, including Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who recently clinched the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for the same election.
Notably, Ajayi’s political journey saw him leaving the APC after a fallout with Governor Akeredolu in 2021. Subsequently, he joined the Zenith Labour Party and contested as its governorship candidate in the 2020 election in the state, where he competed against Akeredolu but lost.
Interestingly, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who is now Ajayi’s opponent, also served as a former deputy governor of Ondo State, but during the second term of Governor Akeredolu.
Aiyedatiwa assumed office last December following the death of his principal.
