The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is to conduct the April 20 Ondo State governorship shadow election through direct primary.
A letter to this effect signed by the National Chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and National Secretary, Sen. Ajibola Basiru, was sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the primary.
Deputy National Organising Secretary, Nze Chidi Duru, confirmed the mode of election to our correspondent in a phone conversation in Abuja last night.
Asked what mode of election will be used for the party’s April 20 Ondo State primary, the former House of Representatives member said:
“We are using the direct primary mode of election for Ondo State governorship shadow poll.
“This decision has equally been conveyed in a letter signed by the National Chairman and the National Secretary to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that the party has adopted direct mode of election for Ondo State shadow poll.”
Two women are in the race for the APC governorship ticket in Ondo State.
The party has raked in N720million from sale of expression of interest and nomination forms.
At the close of sale yesterday, 16 aspirants have picked the forms ahead of the April 20 governorship primary election to elect the APC standard-bearer for the November 2024 Ondo State Governorship Election.
The party realised the money from 14 male aspirants, who picked the forms for N50 million each and two female contenders, who paid N10 million each for the expression of interest form, as women and persons living with disabilities are exempted from paying the N40 million nomination form.
The exercise, which started on March 27, closed yesterday.
Checks at the party’s Directorate of Organisation showed that the incumbent governor, Lucky Ayiedatiwa and 15 others picked the expression of interest and nomination forms to contest for the party’s shadow election later in the month.
The Nation gathered that all the aspirants but two were male. The female aspirants are Funmilayo Mary Whaeed Adekojo, an engineer and Mrs. Funke Omogoroye Folakemi Judith, also an engineer.
Those who obtained the forms include Olusoji Adewale Ehinlanwo, Hon. Okunjimi Odimayo John, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim and APC National Vice Chairman (Southwest) Duerimini Isaacs Kekemeke.
Others are Akinfolarin Mayo Samuel, Adewale Okumuyiwa Akinterinwa, Olugbenga Omogbemi Edema, Chief Olusola Alexander Oke (SAN), Gen. Ohunyeye Olamide Felix, Morayo Lebi, a lawyer; Garvey Oladiran Iyanjan, Prof. Francis Adebayo Faduyile and Ifeoluwa Olusola Oyedele, an engineer (Male).
The aspirants have till tomorrow to submit their filled forms to the Directorate of Organisation.
Currently, the revalidation of the membership register is being conducted in the 18 local governments ahead of the local government congress.
