A two-term House of Representatives lawmaker, Hon. Kolade Akinjo, is strongly positioned to become the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate for the November 16 election in Ondo State.
The PDP gubernatorial primary poll will take place tomorrow, Thursday, April 25, at the International Culture and Events Centre (The Dome) in Akure, the state capital.
The senator Sam Egwu Screening Committee has approved seven aspirants to participate in the shadow poll.
The cleared aspirants are Otunba Bamidele Akingboye, Hon Agboola Ajayi, Chief Sola Ebiseni, John Ola Mafo, Adeolu Akinwumi, Bosun Arebuwa, and Akinjo.
Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, has been appointed by the PDP National Working Committee to lead the seven-member Primary Election Committee.
627 delegates from the state’s 18 local government areas are expected to vote for the PDP flagbearer.
Barring unforeseen circumstances, the 51 year-old Ilaje man, who represented the Ilaje/Ese-Odo federal constituency at the eighth and ninth National Assembly is in a pole position to clinch his party ticket.
‘The News Eyes Daily’ gathered that PDP leaders are looking for a unifer, who is very sound and whose candidature will bring all factions together.
According to a PDP chieftain who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the party does not want to produce a candidate who will result in mass defections.
“The outcome of the 2020 PDP governorship primary laid the groundwork for our failure. “We have yet to recover from the mass defection following the primary election.”
When asked about the chances of the other six aspirants, the PDP stalwart from Akure North local government stated that “the former Deputy Governor of the State, Hon Agboola Ajayi and Ebiseni may spring a surprise in the primary poll.”
However, ‘The News Eyes Daily’ gathered that the PDP leaders may mobilize the delegates against the two aspirants.
According to sources within the PDP, many party leaders are concerned that if Ebiseni is given the party ticket and subsequently elected as the state governor, he would become too powerful to control.
It was also learnt that Agboola may be walking on a tightrope as some leaders in the party are still yet to forgive him for dumping the party after the 2020 primary election for Zenith Labour Party.
“The pain inflicted on the PDP by Ajayi’s defection to the ZLP after our party 2020 primary poll is yet to heal. His candidature may not be widely accepted by all PDP members, as those in Eyitayo Jegede’s camp may not work for the party’, the source said.
Tomorrow’s PDP primary election may turn into a naira bazaar as aspirants compete to woo delegates.
Arebuwa, Mafo and Akinwumi may lack the financial muscles to compete with other aspirants.
The PDP, through its State Publicity Secretary Kennedy Peretei, has warned those who are not delegates or have no business at tomorrow’s polling location to stay a reasonable distance away from the arena.
Last weekend, the All Progressives Congress (APC) chose Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the state governor, as its candidate for the governorship election on November 16.
