President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is presently in dilemma about whom to anoint among the aspirants of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as his preferred candidate for the November 16, 2024, gubernatorial election in Ondo State.
Following a week long investigation by Starnews NG, AKINRINLOLA OLUMIDE writes that president Tinubu is faced with a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made among four aspirants loyal to him this weekend.
Top presidential sources told Starnews NG that Tinubu is considering three factors to make his choice among the four aspirants he sees as his political sons jostling for the APC gubernatorial ticket.
“Baba is looking at three factors. He wants a loyal person, a man who can deliver, and a candidate without a certificate issue. I can confide in you that his mind is currently divided by four of the governorship aspirants he sees as his sons”, a close presidential aide told our correspondent.
On inquiry, he gave the names of the four aspirants under consideration as follows: Wale Akinterinwa, a former Finance Commissioner, Diran Iyantan, a two-term Commissioner, Paul Akintelure, Akeredolu’s ex-running mate and the incumbent governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
Starnews NG reports that no fewer than 26 persons have shown interest to contest the APC’s primaries in April this year.
Notable among them are: Former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Oladunni Odu; former member of the House of Representatives, Mayowa Akinfolarin; former member who represented the State on the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Olugbenga Edema; retired Director of Finance at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Olumide Ohunyeye, and business mogul and incumbent Senator representing Ondo South Senatorial District, Jimoh Ibrahim.
Others include: a two-time governorship candidate in Ondo State (2012 and 2016), Chief Olusola Oke; the Executive Director (Engineering and Technical Services) at Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited, Ifeoluwa Oyedele; APC National Vice Chair (South-west), Isaac Kekemeke; former President of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Adedayo Faduyile; Paul Akintelure; Olusola Iji; Jimi Odimayo; Matthew Oyerinmade; Funmilayo Adekojo, Prince Diran Iyantan, former Finance Commissioner, Wale Akinterinwa and the incumbent governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
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