Ondo 2020: Who runs with Agboola?

The Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi, has reportedly joined the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) where he has been assured of getting the ticket to run against the incumbent Governor who is also his Boss. Obviously, the October 10 governorship election in the state will no longer be a choice between the two major political parties. The emergence of the “third force” has left the electorate to look another direction.

One thing is, however, certain. The leadership of the party will have to completely look outside the Southern senatorial district in selecting running mate for the deputy governor. However three names come to the mind for consideration.

Since the creation of the state in 1976, a female Governor has never emerged neither has a female deputy Governor emerged in the state. In fairness to the female folks, to consider Hon. Mrs. Simi Akindele-Odunmbaku will not be a bad decision for the party. Simi, a 53 years old former Commissioner for Women Affairs is from Isowopo ward in Akoko North West Local Government in the northern senatorial district of Ondo State. A few women are beginning to raise their voices in solidarity for one of their own should she be favoured to run with the Deputy Governor. Will this sentiment work for her? Only the leadership of the party will decide.

In his days as the Governor of Ondo State, many can attest to the strides of former Governor Olusegun Mimiko especially in the area of infrastructural development. But then, there’s a man who was behind what was done —Engr. Gboye Adegbenro — in his capacity as the then Commissioner for works.

Fifty-year-old Gboye is from Ifedore Local government in the central senatorial district. Every other thing seems working for him save for rumours that the party may prefer a candidate from the northern senatorial district.

Fifty-one-year-old Rt. Hon. Abdulsalam Taofiq Olawale is a two-time member of the State Assembly and a former Speaker of the same Assembly and a former Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure. He was also a member of the 2014 National Conference.

He is a community man and a grassroots politician from Ilepa ward in Ikare-Akoko in the northern senatorial district of the state.

He was a member of the Presidential Campaign Council who has his influence spread across the four local government areas in Akoko. Remember that there are only six Local government areas in the northern senatorial district.

Being a Muslim, he has also been tipped as the most favoured especially in maintaining a religious balance between the candidate of the party and his running mate.

While the clock ticks and the set date fast approaches, the choice of who runs with Agboola will further boost the chances of ZLP to wrestle power from the incumbent.