Ahead of 2024, there is a tacit agreement that campaigns to produce next Ondo state Governor should be suspended, at least within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), until the governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu returns from medical leave.
Aspirants seeking to succeed Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu in 2025 are increasing by the day. There is an unwritten agreement on power rotation in the state, which favours Ondo South Senatorial District to produce the next governor. Governor Akeredolu hails from Ondo North, while his predecessor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko is from Ondo Central. So, the populace expects that it is the turn of Ondo South to produce the next governor.
But, this does not exclude aspirants from other senatorial districts from participating in their party primary. This is perhaps the reason why many of the aspirants that have indicated interest in the race are from Ondo South. A lot of them may opt out of the race or may not purchase the nomination forms. Some of the major political parties that are expected to participate in the contest are the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Labour Party (LP).
List of aspirants:
Those interested in succeeding Akeredolu across party lines include Morayo Lebi, Chief Olusola Oke, Ambassador Olusola Iji, Ifedayo Oyedele, Deputy Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa; Commissioner for Finance, Wale Akinterinwa; Ayo Oritedi and Senator Jimoh Ibrahim. Others are former Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi; Eyitayo Jegede, Secretary to the State Government, Matthew Oyerimade; and Princess Oladunni Odu. Erewa Godday, Victor Akinjo; Ondo NDDC commissioner, Gbenga Edema; Sola Ebiseni and a former President of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Prof. Adedayo Faduyile.
Some aides of Governor Akeredolu that are in the race have decided to suspend the campaign as a sign of respect for their boss who is still recuperating from an illness. Nevertheless, some of them are still engaged in subtle campaigns on social media.
Aiyedatiwa in eye of storm:
Observers believe Aiyedatiwa’s bid to succeed his principal may have been given a boost by the governor’s absence. This has paved the way for the deputy governor to assume power in an acting capacity in the interim after Akeredolu handed over power to him as demanded by the law before travelling overseas for a medical check-up. That is why the governor’s absence has been generating tension.
The apprehension is not unconnected to the fear that Aiyedatiwa might become too powerful ahead of the primary. But some political analysts blame Aiyedatiwa for not carrying on his duties as acting governor but rather chose to lean on loyalists of Akeredolu for support.
Subtle campaign:
Though there is a tacit agreement that the campaign for Akeredolu’s successor should be suspended while the governor is still on medical leave, at least within the APC, the race for next year’s governorship election is in full gear. For instance, youth leaders from across the 203 wards under the auspices of the Coalition of Ondo State Youth Leader and Women Leaders (COSYAWLA) announced that they have begun the search for a ‘vibrant youth’ that would succeed Governor Akeredolu.
Chairperson of the group, Mrs Kemisola Bashiru, who appealed to President Bola Tinubu to support their quest for a young person to emerge as the next governor of the Sunshine State, said they want a youthful governor who must be able to identify the problems, proffer solutions to the problems and carry everybody along.
She said: “Members from all the 203 wards in Ondo State in conjunction with other interest groups have resolved to deliver all the 18 local governments in Ondo State for a vibrant youth who is eminently qualified and capable to tackle unemployment, insecurity, economic crisis, and who can build more on the legacies of present and past administrations in the state. The destiny of Ondo State under the Asiwaju Bola Tinubu-led administration can only achieve its viable potential if handled by a prudent, purposeful, transparent, dynamic and reformist youth.
“If we all strive to elect a youth as our next governor, the person would have the capacity to bridge the gap of leadership deficit and place Ondo State in the right development trajectory. We are hereby calling on all the youth and the entire good people of Ondo State to rise and take the bull by the horn by coming out to support one of us to take up the leadership position because we must join hands together to put an end to a situation whereby we are nothing but tools that can be used and dumped by politicians.”
Major contenders in the race, according to some political analysts in the ruling APC, were pruned down to Chief Oke, Princess Odu, Aiyedatiwa, Akinterinwa, Edema, and Prof. Faduliye. Ebiseni is expected to contest the election on the platform of the LP, while Jegede and for deputy governor (Agboola Ajayi) is expected to contest on the PDP platform.
Oritedi:
Dr Oritedi, who is a business development expert and an agribusiness professional, has vowed not to be cowed out of the race. His supporters said he represents the younger generation and has all the qualities to succeed Akeredolu.
Akinterinwa:
Akinterinwa, who is regarded as a technocrat in politics, has also been tipped as a major contender in the race to succeed Akeredolu. He first served as Commissioner for Finance under Dr Olusegun Mimiko but later resigned. He was said to have helped Governor Akeredolu stabilise the state financially by helping to recover some lost funds. Aides close to Akinterinwa said he has put all machinery in place to kick off a campaign to reach all parts of the state.
Odu:
The only female contestant in the ruling APC, Princess Odu, has served as Commissioner for Education (1995 to 1999), Commissioner for Women Affairs (January 1999 to May 1999), Chairman of the Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) from September 2003 to February 2009. She has also served as Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, Federal Commissioner at the Public Complaints Commission before she was reappointed as Chairman of Ondo SUBEB by Governor Akeredolu in 2017.
Supporters of Odu said she would win in a free and fair primary.
Edema:
Edema hails from Ogogoro in Ilaje Local Government Area and was a member of the Ondo State Sports Council (2005 to 2007) and the Ondo State Scholarships Board. He was Chairman of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC). He is currently serving as a member of the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). Edema has said he is the right person to continue with Akeredolu’s legacies.
Oke:
Oke is perhaps one of the most experienced politicians among the aspirants of the APC platform. He was the governorship candidate of the PDP in 2012. He also contested at the primary against Governor Akeredolu’s second term but came second after scoring 206 votes. Oke is a grassroots politician. His supporters believe he has the right connections to win the primary.
Jegede:
Jegede is regarded as the leader of the PDP in Ondo State but supporters of former Governor Mimiko have refused to recognise him as their leader. He served as Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General under the Mimiko administration. He was picked as the preferred successor to Mimiko but lost the election to Akeredolu because he hails from Ondo Central where Mimiko also hails from. He also flew the PDP ticket during the last governorship election in 2020, where came a distant second.
Faduyile:
Prof. Faduyile was a former National President of the NMA and is currently the Special Adviser on Health to Governor Akeredolu. But he is not a grassroots politician; his attempts to go to represent his constituency at the Ondo House of Assembly in 2011 failed woefully. Again, in 2015, he tried to represent his constituency in the House of Representatives but his effort also proved abortive.