AS at the close of work last Friday, The Nation gathered from the state secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Akure, Ondo State, that more than 20 aspirants have purchased the nomination forms to contest the State governorship election on the platform of the party.

This is just as the race towards the governorship election in the state gathers momentum with the APC locked in a severe political battle with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor Olusegun Mimiko. The APC says it is ready to dislodge Mimiko and the PDP from the Alagbaka Government House, but the later says the PDP remains the party of the people in the state.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had set the stage for what many pundits insist will be a tough electioneering contest last February when it issued the timetable for the conduct of governorship election the state. INEC stated that the poll would hold on November 26, 2016.

INEC’s Deputy Director in charge of Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Nick Dazang, made the dates known while speaking to journalists. Both the ruling PDP and the APC are now in the process of selecting flag-bearers ahead of the said election. Nearly a hundred aspirants have indicated interest to govern the state on the platform of the two leading political parties.

But with the two parties putting machineries in motion towards conducting primary elections to elect candidates for the election, the number of those contending for the tickets is dwindling, as some of those who earlier showed interest in the race had failed to obtained nomination forms.

APC set for primary election

With the APC poised to hold its primary election, aspirants paid N5 million each to obtain the nomination form. They also paid N500 000 to pick expression of interest form. The party had said it would not stop any of those jostling for the ticket from participating in the process leading to the primary election.

While agitations for and against the zoning of the ticket to a particular zone of the state persist, The Nation gathered that forms have been sold to aspirants from all parts of the state. The development has left many wondering if the party has decided to do away with all forms of zoning arrangement in deciding who fly the APC banner on November 26, 2016.

As at the time of filing this report, aspirants who have picked both the expression of interest and nomination forms, and fully paid for them, included the following; Ajayi Borrofice, Olusegun Abraham, Olusola Oke, Rotimi Akeredolu, Tayo Alasoadura, Jumoke Anifowose, Gboye Oyewumi and Bode Ayorinde.

Others are Olabimtan Victor, Paul Akintelure, Jamiu Ekungba, Ademola Adegoroye, Akinwale Akingbade, Apata Awodeyi, Akinrinsola Odunayo,, Derin Adesida,, Tunji Abayomi, Bukola Adetula, Niyi Adegbonmire, Foluso Adeyemi, Ayo Akinyelure, Dele Alade, Akinola Olayinka, Tunji Light Ariyomi and Moyosola Niran Oladunni.

According to information gathered from the leadership of the party, the screening of aspirants will be conducted in Abuja from Tuesday 9 to Friday 12 August, 2016 reports News 24. The Primary Election proper will hold Saturday August, 27, 2016 and election appeal will hold from Monday, August 29 to Thursday September, 1, 2016.

The fear of imposition

But as the scheduled primary election draws nearer, there are allegations in some quarters that one of the aspirants may have been favored by a leader of the party who plans to impose him on the party.

Dr. Tunji Abayomi, one of the aspirants, recently stated the leader had recently summoned party leaders in the state and directed them to work for the emergence of a particular aspirant from the northern senatorial district as the party’s candidate. Abayomi however said other aspirants would resist the plan as it was not acceptable.

However, the party’s Chairman in the state, Isaacs Kekemeke, has assured the party’s governorship aspirants and members that its primary will be determined by over 3,000 delegates. Kekemeke, who advised worried aspirants to ignore talks of planned imposition, urged them to devote their time and energies to solicit for votes.

The APC chairman noted that the primary will ensure a level-playing field for the aspirants. He added that even though the responsibility of organising primary elections rests on the National Executive Council (NEC) members, he assured party members that the election will be free, fair and transparent.

He added that whoever “will emerge victorious, will win fairly and those who will lose, will also lose fairly”. This, he said, would make the election credible. Kekemeke, who noted that it was within the right of any member to support any aspirant of his/her choice, said no individual has the power to impose any candidate on the party.

He said: “Party leaders have preferences. The only thing they can do is to use goodwill or influence. But the election will still be decided by the delegates and will be free and fair and the electorate will see their votes clearly as everything will be done in the open.”

Also, the Director of Media and Publicity of the party in the state, Mr. Steve Otaloro, has dispelled the allegation, saying there was no time the leaders were told to favor any of the aspirants in the race to the party’s ticket. H assured the aspirants and members of the party in the state that the primary election will be without any imposition.

He said: “The party has said it several times that the primary election would be free, fair and transparent. So, as far as we in the APC are concerned, there will not be any imposition of candidate in the primary. To the best of my knowledge, no party leader in the state has been invited by anybody and told to work for anybody.”

Zoning debate

Although the party has not restricted the sales of forms to a particular zone, the debate over zoning has refused to go away. Even as aspirants from all parts of the state collected nomination forms to vie in the primary election, promoters of zoning are still urging the leadership of the party to give Ondo north senatorial district the right to produce the next governor of the party.

This is just as those opposed to the call are encouraging the APC leadership to keep the contest open in the interest of equity fairness and justice. With the party undecided over the zoning debate, even aspirants from Ondo central senatorial district, where the incumbent Governor Mimiko hails from, have picked the nomination forms to contests the party’s primary election.

Aspirants from the Central and Southern Senatorial Districts had been warning that they should not be shut out of the contest for the APC ticket under any zoning arrangement. An aspirant, Boye Oyewunmi, faulted the advocates of the zoning arrangement, saying the party’s constitution does not make provision for zoning. He said those advocating for the zoning of the party’s ticket were only saying that as a gimmick to exclude quality aspirants from the race.

But former Ondo State House of Assembly member Prince Ademola Adegoroye, who is also eyeing the APC ticket, supports the zoning arrangement because, accruing to him, it will ensure equity and justice amongst the various zones of the state. He wants the ticket to be zoned to the Akure zone, in the central senatorial district.

“Of course, I believe in the Akure Agenda, I believe there must be justice and equity. I believe that Akure is the only division in the state that has not produced the governor. Ondo has done, just like Ikale has. Owo and Akoko have done. So Akure North, Akure South or Ifedore should produce the next governor,” he said.

Leaders of the party in Owo zone have also come out to support the the zoning arrangement and want it to favour the north senatorial district, specifically Owoland. Consequently, the leaders of the community wrote a letter under the auspices of Owo General Assembly, to the National Leader of the APC, Senator Bola Tinubu, and the state governor, Mimiko, to restrict their parties’ candidacy to Owo Local Government Area.

In the said letter, signed by the OGA National Coordinator, Akin Aruwajoye, and Secretary, Dr. Monday Duromola, the group lamented that its people were marginalised and believed that having one of their own as a governor would change their fortune for better. The leaders called on the two leading parties to give Owo the chance in the interest of equity.

Jamiu Afolabi Ekungba, a member of the Board of Trustees of the APC and a governorship aspirant, said the party has never said it is against the zoning arrangement. According to him, zoning the ticket to a particular part of the state would help the party a great deal. He however said he is not worried about the arrangement

“I have never heard the party saying they would not follow zoning, but the party does not impose zoning on anybody. It is not possible. It is not possible for APC to say it does not recognize zoning, because even in the presidential election, we did it. We would just have picked the president from Katsina and picked the vice president from Borno and disturbed the country’s political balance. If the party adopts zoning finally, that would be good, it will reduce the number of aspirant, it will also address people wasting their resources so that there can be realignment and cooperation by groups,” he said.

http://thenationonlineng.net/ondo-2016-tough-race-apc-ticket/

ok

APC strategy here should be very simple, avoid implosion. Mimiko's goodwill is already damaged and with the odour coming from Fayose in next door Ekiti, Alagbka Government House is almost sure for APC

Hmmm..time will tell

The Best Candidate should win

Mimiko's rating is very low ATM, so the chance of his anointed candidate taking home the bacon is at an all time low, but APC can make a mess of the grace that the Lord is about to bestow on them by imposing a candidate...

If they allow the primary to be free and fair, 75% of their work is done..

I think Oke should be ok...I never want Apc to take over that state though but Mimiko don poo for chair...his candidate will fail on earth and in heaven too...Vote Olusola Oke...the next governor.

Many people will wanna vote out PDP especially the civil servants , judging by mimiko terrible second time in office... As much as I want APC to win, their oga at d top is performing woefully, but with the right candidate, i see APC, winning this one...

Criminals racing hard to take up the baton of looting. God kill all politicians

Indeed Losers race. I don't think any reasonable person will want to vote for those lying liars

https://www.nairaland.com/3286131/apc-search-what-changed
From what I gathered from the above thread, APC form cost over 100 million, Why?.

lets see what apc can do this time

Mimiko is going to jail afterwards

Hey

Taryur3:
I think Oke should be ok...I never want Apc to take over that state though but Mimiko don poo for chair...his candidate will fail on earth and in heaven too...Vote Olusola Oke...the next governor.

The Bola Tinubu I know politically will never support a man who gave most of his political life as a PDP member emerging as gov in a south west state. So sorry to say, Oke candidacy is dead on arrival.

The nation and Political analyses. One sided.





Ondo State is not Osun or Lagos where you can just impose anybody.




We are learned people.

We are feeling in change in a different manner already.

I hope they conduct a free and fair primary election and either of Ajayi Boroface or Victor Olabimtan emerges and the party's leadership plead with Oke to accept the Deputy Governor's post or nominate a suitable candidate from the Agagu's PDP bloc, then Ondo shall be APC's state come February 2017.

KINGinVAHALA:

The Bola Tinubu I know politically will never support a man who gave most of his political life as a PDP member emerging as gov in a south west state. So sorry to say, Oke candidacy is dead on arrival.

My thought too...I won't be sad either if he Oke should be denied the ticket...new party gonna emerge...and Oke will be OK for Ondo people...Apc is a scam...I never want Tinubu...orders in that state.

APC is not Doing any better at the center but Mimiko shut himself on the foot by the way and manner he ruined and he is currently running the administration and affiars of the state. Shame to all of our politicians and let them also have it at the back of their mind that the next generation and history will not forgive them if country fails due to their selfish ambition !!!

the best of them should win.

WAIT THERE AFTER THIEFNUBI HAVE ALREADY CHOSEN OLUSEGUN ABRAHAM

KINGinVAHALA:

The Bola Tinubu I know politically will never support a man who gave most of his political life as a PDP member emerging as gov in a south west state. So sorry to say, Oke candidacy is dead on arrival.

You are wrong !!! fayemi , Amosun and few others like that spent most of their political years in PDP before crossing over to AC/ ACN .



But they always end up as betrayers . even Mimiko assumed the position because of Tinubu's political sagacity but at the end of the day he not only go back to the PDP but tried as much as possible to pull him down.


I am not expecting Oke and Alasoadura to get the ticket this time around.

All the candidates are interested in d loot
After d election ,u will knw at am talking abt

BTW,tinubu is very much relevant in on do politics

But mimiko perfumed well during his 1st tenure in ondo state

modath:


Mimiko's rating is very low ATM, so the chance of his anointed candidate taking home the bacon is at an all time low, but APC can make a mess of the grace that the Lord is about to bestow on them by imposing a candidate...

If they allow the primary to be free and fair, 75% of their work is done..

Tinubu won't allow a level playing field for all. His ACN should have won four years ago if he had not foisted Aketi on the party. He is about to do what he does best again—impose his candidate on the party. With the multitude of candidates seeking the ticket, it will be an unwise decision to tilt the process in favour of an anointed candidate. Others who will be schemed out are going to fight back by working against the party. The murmur of complaints against the underhand attempt to decide for Ondo people by extraneous forces is a sign of what is in the offing. Mimiko and his party are highly vulnerable to defeat no doubt, but the APC can be beaten at the polls if it allows this incipient schism to exacerbate.

bejeiodus:
Tinubu won't allow a level playing field for all. His ACN should have won four years ago if he had not foisted Aketi on the party. He is about to do what he does best again—impose his candidate on the party. With the multitude of candidates seeking the ticket, it will be an unwise decision to tilt the process in favour of an anointed candidate. Others who will be schemed out are going to fight back by working against the party. The murmur of complaints against the underhand attempt to decide for Ondo people by extraneous forces is a sign of what is in the offing. Mimiko and his party are highly vulnerable to defeat no doubt, but the APC can be beaten at the polls if it allows this incipient schism to exacerbate.

Person nor dey advise pikin make e nor go catch leprosy, make e just nor forget the part about inevitable banishment to the forest..

They have both the knife and the yam, they can decide to throw both into the ocean, they will lick their wounds thereafter..

Mimiko had good ratings going into that election, Aketi wasn't the issue then...

I do hope you aren't buying the multitudes of candidates jostling narrative? 95% of them are priming for Senatorial, HOR & Political appointments "compensation", they know that no one is in any doubt that they are pretenders..

Ademola Adegoroye. . . . Contesting for one election or another since 1890. forever flooding Ondo state with one poster or another. Serial contestant.

My candidate of choice is tunji light ariyo. He's young and innovative with an impressive CV. I think he will shake things up positively in Ondo state.

Rotimi Akeredolu is another candidate with promise.

I think APC ShoulD nt talk about imposition or zoning. What. Should be uppermost in their is how to win the election. ThEy. Should look more at voting strenght Of the various diStrict before picking. A candidate.

J

All these in effort to loot the people's treasury, impose their dominance on Nigerians and continue to cause confusion and division among the masses
I cry for states like Ondo that supposed to be an epitome in Nigeria due to massive and abundant natural resources, agricultural opportunities, vibrant, strong educational presence and educated youths. All the factories in Ondo are now dead!!! Oluwa Glass, Nigerian-Romanian wood industry, Africola, That cooking oil factory in Owo etc.

Government and leadership has failed us in all ramifications.

Unfortunately, we still all pledge loyalty to all these looter. This is the only reason why people like Jimoh Ibrahim can say he wants to govern Ondo State - A man with no single credibility!!!!

Politics and democracy is the second- greatest scam ever invented by man after Religion.

A "dictator" with the right future plan and focus is the best thing for places like Africa but unfortunately the west will shove their demonstration of craze down our throat!!!

EYIMICHAEL:
The nation and Political analyses. One sided.






Ondo State is not Osun or Lagos where you can just impose anybody.





We are learned people.


We are feeling in change in a different manner already.

If you know Ondo State very well, Dr Mimiko's candidate will never be allowed to win in view of his dismal performance and deceitful nature which manifested glaringly since 2012. The coast is almost clear for APC but they should guide against this imposition thing, otherwise you'll begin to here "ko sobo ndanre mo" meaning Idanre is no longer a city of monkeys which can be fooled with ordinary banana.

People just dey waste money. Rotimi Akeredolu(SAN) is the APC gubernatorial candidate.

Sorry for any other APC candidate.

If you vote for APC in Ondo State, you are on your own oo. Ask people of Kogi