Ahead of the November 2024 governorship election in Ondo State, the two major political parties in the state: All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have raked in more than N800 million from the sale of expression of interest and nomination forms, the Nigerian Tribune has learnt.

A total of 18 aspirants from the two parties have so far indicated interest in the primaries of the APC and the PDP, while more aspirants are expected to pick up forms within the week as the expiration of the deadlines draws near.

In the ruling party in the state, APC, at least 11 aspirants have obtained the N50million expression of interest and nomination forms, while sources said more aspirants are expected to obtain the forms shortly.

It was gathered that N510million has been raised by the APC from the sale of the forms to aspirants at the rates of N10 million for the expression of interest form and N40 million for the nomination form.

The list of aspirants who have obtained the forms include: Chief Olusola Oke, Gbenga Edema, Isaacs Kekemeke, Jimoh Ibrahim, the incumbent governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa and Mr. Wale Akinteriwa.

Others are: Jimi Odimayo, Mayowa Akinfolarin, Diran Iyantan, Mrs. Funmi Waheed-Adekojo and Olamide Ohunyeye, while others are expected to obtain before the Wednesday deadline.

The only female aspirant in the race under the APC platform, Funmi Waheed-Adekojo, was exempted from paying for the nomination form but paid N10 million for the expression of interest.

According to the timetable released by the party’s National Organising Secretary, Sulaimon Argungu, who said female aspirants and persons living with disabilities are to pay for Expression of Interest while the nomination form is free.

The party added that the sale of nomination, expression of interest and delegates forms for contestants will begin on April 3 and end on April 10, while the primary will hold on April 25.

However, the main opposition party in the state, the PDP, has made a sum of N259million from the sale of nomination and expression of Interest forms from seven aspirants ahead the primary on April 25.

The PDP sale of forms ended on Thursday, March 21, while the aspirants, who bought the forms, have submitted the forms and were screened by an ad hoc committee on March 25.

The forms sold at N40 million, with the breakdown as N30 million for expression of interest form, N5 million as party rebranding fee at N1 million and N1 million as secretariat charges.

The seven PDP aspirants that purchased the expression of interest forms are: a former deputy governor of the state, Agboola Ajayi; erstwhile general secretary of Afenifere, Sola Ebiseni; John Ola Mafo; Bamidele Akingboye; Adeolu Akinwumi; Bosun Arebuwa and Kolade Akinjo.

They have been screened by the Ondo State PDP Governorship Screening Committee led by Sam Egwu with Isa Lau, Emmanuel Ogidi, Olivia Dazyman, Tanko Beji, Gladys Ashemuke as members of the committee, while Rahman Owokoniran is the Secretary and Caroline Akinsete as the administrative secretary.

Though the chairman of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) in the state, Lawrence Oyebamiji, disclosed that the nomination form and expression of interest for of the party is N15 million, he said none of the party’s aspirants has so far shown interest in the form.

The PDP however, said its governorship candidate would be picked through the indirect mode of primary.

A member of the party›s National Working Committee (NWC), last week, stated that the “PDP’s Ondo State ticket is accessible to all.

“The NWC has not been informed of any consensus, and we have endorsed delegates and three ad hoc arrangements for an indirect primary.

“It implies that members will elect delegates at ward and local government levels. These delegates will subsequently choose the party’s candidate through an indirect primary.”

The APC said it would adopt direct mode for its party primary.

This was according to the release issued by the party, for its timetable and schedule of activities for its primary election in the state.

The party stated in a copy of the timetable that the sale of nominations, expressions of interest, and delegate forms for contestants jostling for the party’s governorship ticket would commence on April 3 and end on April 10. (Nigerian Tribune)

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