Agboola Ajayi, Ondo State’s former Deputy Governor, has won the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary, securing his position as the party’s candidate for the upcoming governorship election on November 16, 2024.
Ajayi prevailed over six rivals in the indirect primary that took place at Akure’s International Culture and Events Centre on Thursday, April 25, 2024.
The contenders included Bamidele Akingboye, Adeolu Akinwumi, Sola Ebiseni, John Mafo, Kolade Akinjo, and Bosun Arebuwa.
Ajayi received 264 votes out of a total of 619 valid votes, with Akinjo and Ebiseni finishing in second and third place with 157 and 99 votes, respectively.
Previously serving as deputy governor under the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, Ajayi had a falling out with Akeredolu during the 2021 re-election campaign and subsequently left the All Progressives Congress (APC).
After an unsuccessful bid for the PDP ticket, Ajayi briefly joined the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) before returning to the PDP fold.
He is set to compete against Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who assumed the governorship following Akeredolu’s demise in December 2023.
Aiyedatiwa secured the APC ticket after a fiercely contested primary, defeating prominent figures such as Senator Jimoh Ibrahim and Olusola Oke.
