Next Saturday voters in Ondo State would elect a governor to rule the state for the next four years.

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), 17 political parties have nominated candidates for the election. The final list of candidates published by INEC on June 14th includes incumbent governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC), former deputy governor, Agboola Ajayi, of the main opposition People?s Democratic Party (PDP), and 15 others.

The commission, through its National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, weeks ago also disclosed that the two political parties, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP), conducted fresh primaries to replace their earlier nominated candidates and their running mates by the deadline of 10 June.

In the last few weeks, the different parties and their candidates have been campaigning across the state, in a bid to sell their agendas to the voters. It is expected that parties and their candidate would end their campaign by the midnight of 14 November.

However, political analysts have predicted that Saturday?s Ondo governorship election as a two-horse race between the candidate of the ruling APC, Aiyedatiwa, and his main challenger, Agboola Ajayi of the PDP, with the other parties merely completing the list of contenders.

Interestingly, the two main candidates are both former deputies to late former governor Akeredolu, both had fallen out with the late governor, and both survived several impeachment attempts.

The political gladiators are intensifying alliance to win votes in Saturday?s election, however, for many it would be interesting to see where Akeredolu political dynasty will pitch their tent. Though the Akeredolus are members of the ruling APC, they have been at loggerheads with Governor Aiyedaitwa before and after he succeeded late Governor Akeredolu.

Similarly, another scenario that is interesting to observers ahead of the poll is which camp the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, who is serving in an APC administration, will support.

Wike, who single handedly brought former governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko to join the PDP and is his close friend, both were part of the Integrity Group spearheaded by the G5 governors that gave full support to Bola Tinubu and rejected the PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in the 2023 election.

For many observers, it would be interesting to see if Wike support Agboola Ajayi, a member of his party the PDP, who is a political godson of former Governor Mimiko, or will he support Aiyedatiwa, the candidate of the APC and the ruling party that Wike currently serves under.

Would the situation in the recent Edo State gubernatorial election, where the FCT Minister refused to back his party?s candidate, Asue Ighodalo and rather supported the APC?s candidate through his loyalists repeat itself?

Many people are watching, but the PDP have pledged to fight tool and nail to win the Ondo governorship election. Pundits see a straight contest between the two leading parties that could go either way if INEC allows the people?s will to prevail.

But the APC as the ruling party in Ondo appears to have the upper hand, although there are conflicting reports about the party?s performance in the state in the last eight years.

However, I don?t see much work that the PDP and its candidate have done either in Ondo, not even with the crisis that has engulfed the once ruling party nationally after the 2023 elections.

Thus, considering the desperation of APC to win at all cost in recent off-cycle gubernatorial elections in Edo, Imo, Kogi States, performance and posture of INEC in those elections, some would say perhaps, it is likely the pendulum would swing to the APC and it candidate on Saturday.

Ahead Saturday?s governorship election, here is a profile of some of the candidates.

Lucky Aiyedatiwa (APC)

Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the sitting governor of Ondo State, was born on 12 January 1965. He hails from Obe-Nla, an oil-bearing community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.

Aiyedaitwa had his primary education at Saint Peter?s UNA (now FAC) Primary School, Obe Nla/Obe Adun, Ondo State, and secondary education at Ikosi High School, Ketu, Lagos.

In 1986, he obtained Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) in Economics and Government from Lagos State College of Education (now Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education), Ijanikin, Lagos, and later attended University of Ibadan for Advanced Diploma in Business Administration in the year 2001.

He became an alumnus of Lagos Business School ? Pan Atlantic University, Lekki, Lagos where he obtained Post Graduate Certification in Chief Executive Education (CEP) in Business Management in 2009. In 2013, he obtained a Master?s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from University of Liverpool, United Kingdom.

Aiyedatiwa worked as an Inventory/Store Officer at SCOA Assembly Plant Plc. Apapa, Lagos, between 1982 and 1983. In 1987 he was Assistant Head Teacher at Reliance International Schools, Ijokodo, Ibadan.

He worked as Marketing Officer at Universal Pharmaceutical Supply Co. Ltd, Ikeja, Lagos, Assistant Investment Analyst at Global Trust Limited, Lagos, and General Merchandise Manager, Biz Mart Nigeria Limited, Lagos.

He is established Blue Wall Group of Companies in 1996, with the following subsidiaries: Blue Wall Nigeria Ltd, a trading company; Blue Wall BDC Nigeria Ltd, a Central Bank of Nigeria-licensed foreign exchange trading company, and Blue Wall Safety Travels and Tours, an IATA-licensed travel agency and logistic company.

He joined active politics in 2011 as a card-carrying member of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) which later merged with other political parties and became APC.

He was one of the National Delegates from Ondo State at the APC National Convention at Abuja in 2014. He contested for the federal House of Representative for Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency in the 2015 election.

Aiyedatiwa served as the federal commissioner who represented Ondo State on the Board of Niger Delta Development Commission from 2018 to 2019. He was selected as Rotimi Akeredolu?s running mate in the 2020 Ondo State gubernatorial election.

He became acting governor of Ondo State on 13 December 2023, as Akeredolu left for end-stage leukaemia treatment. Following the death of Akeredolu on 27 December 2023, Aiyedatiwa was sworn in as governor of Ondo State.

Agboola Ajayi (PDP)

Agboola Ajayi, the candidate of the People?s Democratic Party (PDP), was born on 24 September 1968 to Newton Ajayi and Rebecca Ogunjinte (n?e Olubusade).

He hails from Kiribo Town of Western Apoi tribe in the Ese Odo LGA of Ondo State. He attended Community High School in Kiribo Town and later moved to Methodist High School in Okitipupa LGA.

He then went on to study Law degree at Igbinedion University, Okada in Edo State and graduated with Bachelor of Law (LL.B) at 2nd Class Upper division and subsequently was called to the bar in 2010 after graduating from the Nigerian Law School in Abuja.

Ajayi started his political career under the platform of Social Democratic Party (SDP) and became the chairman of SDP in Old Opoi Ward 1 from 1988 to 1998. He later joined PDP in 1998 and was made the Secretary of PDP in Ilaje/Ese Odo LGA between 1998 and 1999.

He was later made the Supervisor for Agriculture for Ese-Odo LGA from 1999 to 2001 and subsequently appointed as Supervisor for Works and Transport for Ese-Odo LGA from 2001 to 2003. He then went on to become the Caretaker Chairman of Ese Odo LGA between 2003 and 2004 before he was finally elected as the chairman of Ese-Odo LGA from 2004 to 2007.

He also served as member of the House of Representatives and represented Ilaje/Ese Odo federal constituency under the PDP. During his time in the House, Ajayi served as the chairman House Committee on NDDC from 2007 to 2010.

Ajayi later decamped from PDP to APC and was selected as the running mate to Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) in the Ondo State Governorship election in November 2016 under the platform of APC.

The pair won the election and was sworn in as governor and deputy governor of Ondo State on 24 February 2017. He contested the October 2020 governorship election in Ondo on the platform of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and lost to late governor Akeredolu.

Ayodele Festus Olorunfemi (LP)

A unionist, Ayodele Festus Olorunfemi emerged the governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Ondo State on April 26, 2024.

He was formerly General Secretary of the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), an affiliate of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC). He hails from Uro Ajowa and studied at Prowess University, USA.

Akingboye Benson Bamidele (SDP)

Akingboye Bamidele embodies a refreshing departure from traditional politics, focusing instead on genuine service and sustainable development.

At the core of Akingboye?s candidacy lies a profound commitment to public service devoid of personal gain. Unlike many politicians who vie for power for self-aggrandizement or financial enrichment, Akingboye?s aspirations are firmly rooted in a desire to uplift his state and its people.

His vision transcends the allure of office, driven by a genuine dedication to creating a better future for all residents of Ondo State.

Akingboye?s platform is a comprehensive strategy for advancing sustainable development goals (SDGs) within the state. Recognizing the urgent need to address pressing issues such as poverty, economic stagnation, and insecurity, he pledges to pioneer initiatives aimed at broadening the state?s economic base, reducing the cost of governance, and prioritizing the welfare of the people above all else.

Akingboye?s track record as both a politician and a philanthropist speaks volumes about his commitment to public service. Throughout his career, he has consistently demonstrated a steadfast dedication to uplifting the less privileged and empowering communities across Ondo State.

His philanthropic endeavours have touched countless lives, earning him widespread respect and admiration from both constituents and colleagues alike.

Other candidates includes Falaiye Abraham Ajibola (AC) Akinuli Fred Omolare (AA), Ajayi Adekunle Oluwaseyi (AAC), Akinnodi Ayodeji Emmanuel (ADP), Popoola Olatunji Tunde (APGA), Ogunfeyimi Isaac Kolawole (APM), Fadoju Amos Babatunde (APP), Olugbenga Omogbemi Edema (NNPP), Alli Babatunde Francis (PRP), Akinmurele John Otitoloju (YPP), Mimiko Olubansile Abbas (ZLP) and Nejo Adeyemi (ADC) who is a PWD and Adegoke Kehinde Paul (YP). (BusinessDay)

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