No fewer than 34 chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State have informed the party leadership of their intention to contest the governorship. The primary will hold between now and September. Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU writes on the factors that will shape the shadow poll.
posters of aspirants adorn and litter Akure, the capital of Ondo State. It appears that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is more prominent in the poster war. Governorship aspirants on the platform of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are still waiting for directives from Governor Olusegun Mimiko. The posters are of various sizes and shapes. They are complemented by banners and bill boards sponsored by contenders. They point to one thing: an impending epic struggle for the opposition ticket at the primary.
Eyes are on the Sunshine state as it warms up for the succession battle. No fewer than 52 APC chieftains have declared their aspirations on the pages of newspapers. Thirty four of them have formally informed the State Executive Committee (SEC) of the party headed by Hon. Isaacs Kekemeke, a politician from the minority Ijaw, South Senatorial District.
A source said about 10 aspirants are itching to succeed Mimiko. They include Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Gbenga Elegbeleye, Senator Remi Okunrinboye, prince Nekan Olateru-Olagbegi, Bamiduro Dada, Chief Sola Ebiseni, Dare Emiola, Adedayo Omolafe, Dayo Fadahunsi, Benson Amuwa, Dare Bada and Debo Ajimuda.
In the Social Democratic Party (SDP), former Defence Minister Dr. Olu Agunloye is the lone aspirant.
The aspirants are busy nurturing their structures. As they campaign, they are also targeting delegates. This has become necessary, following the assurance by Kekemeke and the Southwest APC leader, Chief Pius Akinyelure, that the party will organise a transparent primary. “Since there will be no imposition of candidates, the contenders are working hard and more determined as they prepare for the primary,” said a stalwart, Hon. Bola Ilori from Ondo Kingdom. “The expectation about a transparent and credible process has energised the contenders and given them much confidence,” he added.
But, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had to warn the gladiators last week that they may be running foul of the law because it has not blown the whistle for the commencement of the race. The warning followed reports that the campaigns were characterised by character assassination and intra-party violence.
Miffed by the turn of events, party elders have appealed to the aspirants to pull the break. A meeting of the aspirants was summoned by the party leadership at the APC Secretariat, Akure, where they reiterated their loyalty to the party and promised not to heat up the state. Not all the aspirants attended the meeting. A party chief, who accompanied one of the aspirants to the meeting, said the meeting demarcated between the contenders and pretenders. He added: “Only genuine aspirants turned up. It was like a census. From that day, it was evident that not all the 52 aspirants are serious contestants.”
A fierce battle is expected in the APC. It is a crowded race. In Owo/Ose axis, seven aspirants have thrown their hats into the ring. In Akoko, there are over 10 aspirant. The aspirants include Senator Ajayi Boroffice, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), Dr. Segun Abraham, Chief Jamiu Ekungba, Mrs. Jumoke Anifowose, Chief Olusola Oke, Adeniyi Adegbonmire, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, Light Ariyomoh, Senator Tayo Alasoadura, Dr. Paul Akintelure, Odunayo Akinrinsola, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, Dr. Odunayo Ayorinde, Hon. Victor Olabimtan and Niran Akinsuyi Sule. Others are Niran Oladunni, Akinwale Akingbade, Akin Awodeyi Apata, Boye Oyewumi, Olakunle Oyegoke, Olaoluwa adeyeye, Adejoro Adeogun, Prince Derin Adesida, Olakunle Jaliu, Foluso Adefemi, and Awosika (Zokas).
The high number of contestants is worrisome to party elders, who suspect a hidden agenda. Last month, there were reports that some aspirants are moles of the PDP. Tracking them may not be easy because many APC and PDP chieftains have long interaction when they were in the Alliance for Democracy (AD). There have been defections to and from the PDP and the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and vice versa.
However, observers have narrowed the contest to a three-horse race. They believe that Boroffice, Akeredolu and Oke are top contenders. Others disagree, saying that nobody can predict the nearest future. In their view, others, including Abraham, cannot be underrated. A chieftain, Olu Akinola, a lawyer, said: “There is no aspirant who can be ruled out. Many of them are assets to the party. Others in the race know their level too.”
The APC is not categorical about zoning, unlike its bold stand on the democratic primary. Although the constitution of the party does not encourage zoning, it appears the Ondo chapter is disposed to the “rotational principle.” But, the principle has been twisted and interpreted in a way that favours aspirants canvassing the option.
There are three districts in Ondo State. The North has produced the late Chief Adekunle Ajasin (Owo) and the late Chief Adebayo Adefarati (Akoko). Ose politicians are saying that they should be considered. Also, Akoko and Owo aspirants are saying that, since other districts have also enjoyed the slot, it is their turn.
The South produced the late Dr. Olusegun Agagu, who ruled between 2003 and 2008. He was succeeded by Mimiko from the Central, who will soon complete a two terms of eight years. Although Akure is part of the Central, it is making a separate case for power shift. Its argument is that, since 1999, no Akure indigene has served as governor. The last governor from the state capital was the late Commodore Bamidele Otiko. He was a soldier.
According to sources, the mood of the party leadership favours power shift to the North. That may have accounted for the highest number of aspirants from the district. Indeed, the competition is stiffer in Akoko/Owo/Ose axis. Making a case for Owo, Mrs. Anifowose, the daughter of Ajasin, said Akoko and Owo have an informal rotational agreement, adding that since the last governor, Adefarati came from Akoko, the slot should go to Owo. Even, in Akoko, there is division. Adefarati was from Akungba, Akoko South. Those from the other councils have argued that it is now their turn to produce the governor.
However, there is another bloc in the Ondo APC rooting for merit. To this group, competence, integrity and experience should not be displaced by ethnic sentiments. Thus, according to these chieftains, eligible aspirants should go to the race, adding that the primary will separate the wheat from the chaff.
The entire Southwest APC has a deep interest in the Ondo governorship, like the PDP. Akinyelure believes that the victory in Ondo should be a prelude to the 2018 battle in Ekiti. As the Kekemeke’s executive is set to release the guidelines for the primary, conscious efforts are being made to ensure a level playing ground for aspirants. This is necessary to prevent a post-primary crisis.
The two main rivals-Boroffice and Akeredolu-have not relented in their mobilisation across the 18 councils. They are sensitive to the unwritten zoning arrangement, which may knock Oke out of the race. Thus, the two of them are courting the lawyer-politician and former PDP candidate. At home, Boroffice has a major rival in Abraham, who has his fanatical supporters. In Owo, where aspirants have vowed not to step down for any consensus candidate, Akeredolu, who is considered as an Ibadan-based professional, may not get a collective endorsement.
Boroffice is a household name in Nigeria. He is not a prophet without honour at the home front. The eminent scholar is the Asiwaju of Akokoland. A professor of Human Genetics and ranking senator, he has won senatorial elections twice in the North. This attests to his popularity at the grassroots. Although he sought the ticket in 2012, he was persuaded to step down for Akeredolu. During the election, he and other Akoko chieftains delivered the area to the defunct APC.
Akeredolu, a successful lawyer, is the former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice under the military regime. He was the choice of the party elders who dictated the tune in 2012. These elders appealed to other spirants to step down for him. It is ironical that his supporters are now decrying an alleged plan by the elders to tilt the pendulum of support toward another aspirant. Akeredolu is a former President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA). He once aspired to become the National Legal Adviser of the party, but the slot went to Dr. Muiz Banire (SAN). It is doubtful that he is the toast of party elders who supported his bid four years ago. However, he has a solid structure.
Oke, a consummate grassroots politician, ran an impressive race in 2012, emerging second. The former PDP National Legal Adviser joined the APC, shortly after last year’s presidential election. Manay PDP chieftains defected along with him. He thus has a dual advantage. Oke is perceived as the Lion of the South, being the towering political figure from the area. Also, he has a formidable structure, which he has consistently nurtured from his PDP days. He is a popular politician; vocal and rich to run a successful state-wide campaign. Oke rose to fame in the aborted Third Republic when was elected into the House of Representatives. He was the Commissioner representing the state on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and later, he served as the Chairman of the Ondo State Oil-Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC).
However, the major obstacle to Oke’s ambition is said to be his PDP background, which the leadership of the APC, particularly those at the Southwest, may not be comfortable with. The suspicion is being fueled by the activities of former PDP chieftains who are now elected National Assembly members on the platform of the APC. Many Southwest APC leaders were taken aback when one of the senators, in defiance of the party’s directive, pitched his tent with the Senate leadership, an action that earned him public condemnation from the APC leadership.
Despite his popularity, Oke is perceived as a new comer, who was still firing salvos at the Southwest progressive bloc when the APC was being formed. A source said that he may not have influence over the APC delegates, who were elected during the party congress.
The major aspirants have some hurdles to cross. For Boroffice, the primary will not be a walk over, although he has a bright chance. In 2012, when Akeredolu was imposed, there was no protest. But, ahead of the primary, there is a propaganda against Boroffice, who seems to enjoy the backing of the pillars of the party in the region.
Also, Akeredolu may need to work on the perception that he is an alien in Ondo politics, who could not play the role of a party arrowhead effectively after losing the 2012 poll. Party chieftains have alleged that he temporarily left active politics after the election, only to return in the wake of last year’s presidential election.
What has happened between 2012 and now that has made the former NBA president not to get the endorsement of his previous backers? A source said that reality has dawned on those who projected him in the past that he has not learned the ropes. Besides, the lawyer may have been associating with some estranged disciples of the National Leader, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola, who have turned around to destroy the ladder that took them to the top.
Borrofice and Senator Oluremi Tinubu belong to the APC Caucus In the National Assembly. The political association has been interpreted to mean Tinubu’s endorsement of his ambition. He has been described as the candidate of the regional power brokers. But, Boroffice, who denied the endorsement, explained that he had only secured the endorsement of the majority of the delegates, who will elect the candidate at the primary.
He told reporters that his contributions to the growth of the Ondo APC earned him the mass acceptance.
A chieftain of the party, who assessed the aspirants, said many delegates have confidence in the professor. He added: “He is a performing senator and a rallying point for the party since the last election. Boroffice believes in party supremacy and disciple. After he was asked to step down for Akeredolu, he did not sabotage the party. He worked for the party by winning his native Akoko South West Local Council.
“During last year’s elections, the senator won his second term election. He also delivered the senatorial district for the APC during the presidential election. He also led the APC to victory in other National Assembly elections.”
Abraham is a cleric, businessman and philantrophist. He has served on the boards of giant companies. He has a thriving business. Many groups across the state have endorsed his ambition. A critic of the Mimiko government, he has promised to create jobs, reduce the cost of governance and fight corruption, if elected as governor.
Ekungba, a banker, hails from Owo. Like Abraham, Boroffice, and Anifowose, he was an aspirant in 2012. He is a member of the APC Board of Trustees (BoT).
Anifowose, a lawyer, is from a great family. She is a former Attorney-General Commissioner for Justice. She was the Chairman of the defunct ACN.
Alasoadura is from Iju/Itaogbolu axis. He served as Commissioner for Finance under Agagu. He was the Director-General of the ACN Governorship Campaign Organisation in 2012.
Sulre Akinsuyi is a former member of the House of Assembly and Commissioner for Special Duties.
