Former Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Chief Agboola Ajayi, defeated his rivals to emerge the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State ahead of the governorship election scheduled for November in the Southwest state.
Ajayi polled a total of 264 to defeat his closest rival, Hon. Kolade Akinjo a former member of the House of Representatives who poles 157 votes in a keenly contested primary election.
Former Secretary General of the Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, Chief Sola Ebiseni, came 3rd with 99 votes.
Other contestants including, Adeolu Akinwumi polled 64 votes, Bamidele Akingboye polled 24, Mr John Mafo polled nine while Mr Bosun Arebuwa had two votes.
The votes were announced by the Chairman of the electoral committee, the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.
Agboola was the Deputy Governor to Governor Rotimi Acredolu in his first tenure between 2017 and 2021. Akeredolu replaced him with Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the current governor of the state in 2o21 as part of strategic plan for “power shift” within the state politics.