Former deputy governor of Ondo State Agboola Ajayi has won the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary election.
The election held on Thursday had seven aspirants seeking to emerge as the party’s flag bearer at the November 16 poll.
Ajayi was deputy to the late ex-governor Rotimi Akeredolu before they parted ways following irreconcilable differences.
Ajayi polled 264 votes and his closest co-contender Kolade Akinjo had 157 votes while Olusola Ebiseni came third with 99 votes.
Chairman of the seven-man 2024 PDP governorship primary election committee, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, declared Ajayi winner after the exercise in Akure.
Ewhrudjakpo, the deputy governor of Bayelsa, said: “Ajayi having satisfied the requirements stipulated by the electoral guidelines of the party is therefore declared the winner.”
He explained that 623 delegates voted out of expected 627 delegates across the 18 local government areas of the state.
According to him, 621 votes were valid while there were two invalid votes.
Reacting, Ajayi thanked the party for conducting a free, fair and credible election that would spur the party to victory in November 16 poll.
He asked all members of the party to work with him in order to ensure a landslide victory in the forthcoming election.
Ajayi said that a united PDP would defeat the ruling All Progressives Party (APC).
The former deputy governor, who was the governorship candidate of the Zenith Labour Party ( ZLP) in 2020, promised to bring every member of the party together.
“This victory is for PDP members and democracy. I commend the committee for conducting a free, fair and credible election.
“It is a result that cannot be compared with other party. Nobody is complaining.
“I will try my best to bring all aggrieved members together so that we can coast to victory in November 16,” he said.
Other aspirants that contested the primary are Adeolu Akinwumi who got 64 votes, Bamidele Akingboye had 24 votes while Bosun Arebuwa had two votes, and John Mafo got nine votes.
All the aspirants hail from the Ondo Southern Senatorial District.
