Akure, Ondo state – Seven weeks after Edo voters participated in an off-cycle election, residents of Ondo state will do the same as vote to elect the next governor of the state.
The off-cycle election is scheduled to hold on Saturday, November 16, 2024, across the 18 local government areas of the state.
In this article, TimesNow.com.ng highlighted ten interesting things to know about the governorship election in Ondo state.
The military government of the late Murtala Muhammed created Ondo state in 1976 from the Old Western State.
The state capital of the Sunshine State as it is called is located in Akure.
17 candidates from different political parties covering all three senatorial zones are contesting the November 16 governorship election.
The major contenders in the governorship election who may win the poll are Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the APC, Ajayi Agboola of the PDP, Otunba Bamidele Akingboye of the SDP, and Sola Ebiseni of the Labour Party
The 18 LGAs in Ondo state are divided into nine federal constituencies and three senatorial districts: Ondo South (Okitipupa and riverine communities), Ondo Central (Ondo, Akure, and others), and Ondo North (Owo, Ose, and the Akokos).
The two major parties All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have fielded candidates from Ondo South.
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa is the APC candidate while former deputy governor, Ajayi Agboola represents the PDP.
Only Olusegun Mimiko completed two full terms as Ondo state governor of Ondo state.
Mimiko of the Labour Party was declared the winner of the 2007 election by the court of appeal in 2009.
He was re-elected in 2012 and completed his second term in 2016.
Mimiko’s successor in 2016, Rotimi Akeredolu, was also re-elected in 2020 but could not complete his tenure as he tragically passed away in December 2023.
All former governors of Ondo State, except have passed away except Mimiko.
Adekunle Ajasin died in 1997 at 88, Olumilua in 2020 at 80 while Adefarati died in 2007 at 76, Olusegun Agagu in 2013 at 65, and Rotimi Akeredolu in 2023.
Six political parties have governed Ondo State since the creation of the state in 1976 from the Old Western State by the military government of the late Murtala Muhammed.
The political crisis between Governor Adekunle Ajasin and his deputy, Omoboriowo in 1983 resulted in deaths and arson. The crisis started when Ajasin defected Omoboriowo during the UPN governorship primary election.
Omoboriowo disputed Ajasin’s victory and obtained his ticket from the federal ruling party, the National Party of Nigeria (NPN).
