Not less than 24 persons have shown interest in contesting in the April governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state .
However, as at the last count, the state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, is yet to officially join the race as the number of aspirants has continued to grow.
It was hinted at the Ondo party secretariat of the APC that a good number of aspirants have written to the state chairman, Ade Adetimehin, expressing their intention to contest for the coveted seat.
Those aspiring include former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Oladunni Odu; former member of the House of Representatives, Mayowa Akinfolarin; former member who represented the State on the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Olugbenga Edema; retired Director of Finance at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Olumide Ohunyeye, and business mogul and incumbent Senator representing Ondo South Senatorial District, Jimoh Ibrahim.
Others include former Commissioner for the Environment in the state, Sola Ebisemi; two-time governorship candidate in the state (2012 and 2016), Olusola Oke; the Executive Director (Engineering and Technical Services) at Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited, Ifeoluwa Oyedele; APC National Vice Chair (South-west), Isaac Kekemeke; former President of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Adedayo Faduyile; Paul Akintelure; Olusola Iji; Jimi Odimayo; Matthew Oyerinmade; Funmilayo Adekojo, and former Finance Commissioner, Wale Akinterinwa.
The State Director of Publicity of APC in Ondo state, Steve Otaloro, confirmed names listed to have indicated interest in running for governorship.
Otaloro noted that a lot of political activities were being slowed down because of the funeral activities of the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, adding that everything might pick up after the final rites.
Mr Aiyedatiwa’s body language nearly betrayed him about his intention to continue in office when he told his guests last week that he had the blessing of the late Akeredolu to become the next governor of Ondo State.
The governor’s statement was contrary to the insinuation that he was having a beef with his former boss.
Aspirants were however at the crossroads of who will eventually get the endorsement of President Bola Tinubu in the race for the governorship seat.
The incumbent governor was said not to be sure what will come out of Tinubu’s endorsement, more so that the national secretariat of the party has ruled out an automatic ticket for him.
