SPECIAL REPORT: Ondo APC Primary: The Real Contenders And The Pretenders

All appears to be set for the ruling All Progressive Congress in Ondo State to decide the fate of aspirants jostling for the ticket of the party to contest the forthcoming staggered governorship election slated for October this year.

What however remains a heavy burden for the party to conduct a rancour-free primary on Saturday is its inability to prune down the number of aspirants who have purchased the nomination form and are currently crisscrossing the length and breadth of the state, wooing delegates ahead of the D-Day.

The sitting Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and 15 other aspirants have been cleared by the party’s screening committee to slug it out at the primary slated for this Saturday, April 20.

Others who were cleared include the former APC National Vice Chairman (South West), Isaac Kekemeke, former State Lawmakers, Soji Ehinlanwo, Gbenga Edema, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, and former Finance Commissioner, Wale Akinterinwa.

Also in the race are Mrs. Funmilayo Waheed Adekojo, Samuel Mayowa Akinfolarin, Chief Olusola Oke, Ohunyeye Felix, Morayo Lebi, Diran Iyantan, Prof. Francis Faduyile, Okunjimi Odinmayo, Engr. Tunji Light Ariyomo and Engr. Ifedayo Oyedele.

All the aspirants who are from the same southern senatorial zone of the state have received the nod of the 7-man committee led by Sen. Joshua Lidani to throw their hat in the ring for the party’s ticket.

Considering the political clout, structures, and financial wall-chest of each of the gladiators, observers in the State believe that many of them are merely pretenders while the real contenders are relatively few.

According to them, some of the aspirants will soon be stepping down for their preferred candidates who are believed to have purchased the 50 million naira nomination form for them.

Out of the 16 aspirants cleared last week, only about six of them who are Governor Aiyedatiwa, Wale Akinterinwa, Olusola Oke, Jimoh Ibrahim, Isaac Kekemeke, and Akinfolarin are said to be the main contenders while others will state where they belong through their actions in the days ahead.

According to inside sources within the party, the aspirants are gravely worried by the silence of President Bola Tinubu on his choice of candidate and have been shuttling between Akure and Abuja to lobby the president’s loyalists for his endorsement.

From the look of things and his body language, it does not appear Tinubu is keen on anointing a candidate who will fly the party’s flag in October 20, which seems to have informed the reason the contenders are now traversing the state in soliciting for votes ahead of Saturday.

And barring any last-minute pronouncement by the president, none of the aspirants including Aiyedatiwa is currently sure of his chances of winning the primary.

Aiyedatiwa, who is the incumbent governor is believed to be banking on the state machinery to turn the table in his favour. He came into the political limelight following the death of former governor Rotimi Akeredolu but has failed to leverage the late former governor’s political structures to his advantage. How far he will go on Saturday with no solid political base remains in the womb of time.

Jimoh Ibrahim, another strong contender in the race is said to have what it takes to spring a surprise on Saturday. He is the senator representing the Southern zone of the state and has traversed the nooks and crannies of the state seeking grassroots endorsement that will translate into victory at the primary.

It is however argued that the billionaire business mogul has no other political strategies other than throwing money around. Many are of the opinions that if the federal lawmaker eventually wins the Saturday primary and consequently emerge victorious in October, he might be too difficult for the state party leaders to handle. This may either make or mar his chances on Saturday.

Wale Akinterinwa, a seasoned banker and financial expert turned politician is believed to be leveraging the structure of late Akeredolu to realize his ambition. He has rallied the appointees, friends, and families of the late former governor together to build a formidable camp and challenge the incumbent power of Aiyedatiwa. The Ile-Oluji politician is confident of grabbing the ticket on Saturday.

Olusola Oke, a serial governorship contestant in the state has also been seen as a major force in the contest. With ardent political followers, penetrating popularity, and bursting contacts across the state political landscape, Oke will be giving his all to win the primary after failing three consecutive times to rule the state in the past.

Isaac Kekemeke who contested the 2016 APC primary in the state is also not leaving any stone unturned to ensure he secured the party’s ticket. Unlike Aiyedatiwa, Kekemeke has a rich political history in Ondo state.

He was a commissioner for finance during the administration of the late former governor Olusegun Agagu, he was the former chairman of the All Progressive Congress in the State, and recently the National Vice Chairman of South West. Kekemeke is said to have what it takes to slug it out with other strong contenders.

Mayowa Akinfolarin, the former member of the state House of Assembly has considered himself worthy to preside over the state. He had repeatedly stated he would not step down for any aspirant regardless of the intervention of party leadership at the federal. Since he roared his campaign engine to life, Akinfolarin has continued to ripple the political space with an intimidating crowd of supporters, sparking speculations of winning the contest on Saturday.

Aside from these six aspirants, no other politician among the remaining contestants has really convinced political observers in the state of their readiness to fight for the ticket, which makes them appear as pretenders rather than contenders.

It is however believed that a large number of them will pull out from the race before the blast of the whistle on Saturday.