The die is cast as to who will eventually fly the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo state as the Group Managing Director, Energy Group, Dr Jimoh Ibrahim, on Monday emerged as the candidate for the party from Senator Alimodu Sheriff’s faction.
The process that culminated in Ibrahim’s emergence started Sunday evening with other aspirants in the party making last minute’s efforts to grab the ticket at a well-attended and security-fortified primary held at the Banquet Hall, Premier hotel, Ibadan.
The election as reliably gathered, was moved out of Akure to far away Ibadan because of the perceived security threat and alleged inclement situation in that state which is also threatening the peace in the rival All Progressives Congress with its own governorship aspirants up in arms against each other.
Prior to Ibrahim’s emergence on Monday, another aspirant in the party from Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led national leadership of PDP, Eyitayo Jegede, also a lawyer like Ibrahim, had emerged recently in the party’s primary conducted in Akure, Ondo state capital.
Other aspirants who fought till last minute against Ibrahim’s emergence in Ibadan was Mr Olusola Ebiseni, Bamiduro Dada, Niran-Sule Akinsuyi and Mrs. Abiye Ademuyegun.
Three aspirants namely; Mrs Abiye Ademuyegun, Bamiduro Dada and Niran-Sule Akinsuyi, however withdrew for Dr Ibrahim before the election commenced. Only the former commissioner for Local Government under the current administration of Governor Olusegun Mimiko, Mr Olusola Ebiseni stuck to his gun on party primary as against the consensus canvassed by others to pave way for Ibrahim.
After much delay all through the night, the electoral committee headed by Alhaji Ahmed Gulak commenced the process at around 6.48am with accreditation of the 801 delegates from the 18 local government areas in the state.
