Ondo governorship poll: Mimiko, Akeredolu, Oke emerge candidates

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Published on Saturday, 28 July 2012 22:06

Written by Elombah.com

Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, former National Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olusola Oke and Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, on Saturday emerged as the governorship candidates of the Labour Party, People Democratic Party and Action Congress of Nigeria respectively for the October 20 election in Ondo State.

Announcing the result of the ACN primaries, the chairman of the congress committee, Mr. Olawale Osun said 55,917 out of the 61,246  accredited delegates voted in favour of  Akeredolu.

One of the former aspirants and a former chairman the party, Barrister Sola iji moved the motion for the acceptance of the result, while another aspirant and a federal lawmaker, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde  seconded the motion.

The LP also elected Mimiko as its candidate while Alhaji Ali Olanusi, was picked as his running mate for the election.

This followed the decision of an aspirant, Chief Francis Ogunjumelo, to step down for Mimiko before the commencement of the congress..

Members of the ACN in the state simply ratified the decision of their national leaders by electing Akeredolu as its candidate but did not name his running mate.

The ACN candidate after receiving his certificate of nomination, presented by the National Vice Chairman, South West Senator James kolawole said it is time for the party to swing into action.

Akeredolu said  the party will emerge victorious in the election, stressing that he is ready for the task ahead.

The gubernatorial primary election which took place at Akure, the state capital was witnessed by officials of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) and representatives of security agents.

At the event were the ACN chairman in Ekiti state, Chief Jide Awe, National organising secretary of the party, Alhaji Kareem, Osun State ACN chairman, Elder Adelowo Adebiyi and the kogi state chairman Alhaji Aji.

At the PDP's congress held at Helena Hotel in Akure,  621 delegates of the PDP elected  Chief Oke as candidate for the forthcoming election.

The party, which conducted a peaceful primaries was witnessed by INEC officials and PDP National delegation led by Senator Umaru Tsauri, also picked a former governorship aspirant of the Action Congress of Nigeria [ACN], Mr. Saka Lawal as his running mate.

Addressing the party delegates, the PDP state chairman, Mr. Ebenezer Alabi said there was an internal aggreement between the party executives and Chieftains in selecting the party candidate and the running mate.

Alabi added that the party went into the primaries after the delegates have unianimously aggreed to vote for Oke.

He noted that "the system adopted by the party was supported by other aspirants and they are all present at this party primaries to support the PDP flagbeaerer".

The former State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Agagu commended the party leaders and supporters for adopting Oke as their flagbearer, stressing that "in Ondo State today, PDP is one family".

Agagu said it was part of the aggreement of the PDP leaders to give the party Deputy governorship slot to a former member of any opposition party.

"Lawal was picked today becuase he was one of the aspirants of ACN and also have the ideology which the PDP has for the people of the state. What we are doing today has never been done in the history of the party. The peoeple have seen that there is a big different between LP and PDP. They are suffering and want our government back".

The party candidate commended the party members for embracing his candidature, promising that he would never disappoint them.

Oke assured that his administration would focus on creation of jobs for the people. 

He said "You can't embark on infrastruture when the people are suffering, the will embark on destroying them. You can't be building bus stop when you don't have buses, thank God for the federal government who gave the states Oil subsidy palliative buses". 

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