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A former deputy governor of Ondo State, Mr Agboola Ajayi, on Thursday, emerged as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state.
This is coming as the Independent National Electorial Commission fixed November 16 for the governorship election in the state.
Ajayi, a former deputy governor to the late governor Rotimi Akeredolu, beat six other aspirants to the PDP governorship ticket at the primary held in Akure.
Having now clinched the PDP ticket for this year, Ajayi will be facing Akeredolu’s immediate-past deputy governor and now governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, at the poll on November 16.
In the PDP governorship primary conducted on Thursday, Ajayi polled 264 out of the 621 delegates to win the PDP ticket.
Those who contested against him were Chief Olusola Ebiseni, Mr Kolade Akinjo, Mr John Mafo, Mr Adeolu Akinwumi, Mr Bamidele Akingboye and Bosun Arebuwa.
Akinjo, a former member of the House of Representatives, scored 157 votes to come second.
As announced by the poll chairman, Ebiseni polled 99 votes; Akinwumi got 64 votes; Akingboye scored 24 votes; Mafo polled nine votes; while and Arebuwa had two votes.
Ajayi described his victory in the primary as the triumph of democracy, commending the election committee for the transparency displayed in the primary.
He said, “No victor, no vanquished, the victory is for all of us. I want to appeal to my co-contestants to join hands and work with me to have victory in the November 16 governorship election. I will still go and meet them.”
