By Jubril Bada

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Former Deputy Governor, Ondo State, Mr. Agboola Ajayi ; a lawyer, Mr. Ifedayo Adedipe, SAN, and Adetokunbo Modupe have emerged candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the South, Central and North Senatorial Districts of the State for the 2023 general elections respectively.

The trio candidates  emerged through the primary election of the party held at each Senatorial District of the State.

Adedipe emerged winner having polled 82 out of 199 votes to beat his runner up and sitting Senator, Ayo Akinyelure who polled 58 votes  and the immediate past State Chairman of the party, Mr. Clement Faboyede with 57 votes . There were two void votes

Another serving Senator of the PDP representing Ondo South, Nicholas Tofowomo, who recontested, scored 74 votes but lost the party ticket to Ajayi who polled 78 votes.

Other aspirants in the South Senatorial District of the election include former Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Ogundeji lroju, Godday Erewa and Raphael Ademulegun with 23, 12 and 11 votes respectively.

Also, Modupe picked the party ticket for North Senatorial District with 124 votes to beat his main rival, Prince FolusoAdefemi  who scored 93 votes .

Declaring the result for the Central Senatorial District,the Returning Officer for the District, Mr. Bekekhimi Idiarhi announced Adedipe as the winner of the election having scored 82 votes.

In his acceptance speech, Adedipe thanked God for his victory and the party members who voted for him in the election, which he described as peaceful exercise with rancour free.

“The election was very peaceful, free and transparent as there is no compulsion.

“It is the PDP that won the election, not Adedipe as a. candidate because the PDP conducted the peaceful election” he said

Adedipe, who explained that the task ahead of the party was monumental and which requires every hand to be on deck said he would represent the interest of all if he emerges winner in the general elections.

He maintained that the primary was based on existing law, stressing that when the electoral amendment bill is finally given assent by the president would be used for the future primary elections of the political parties.

Speaking with journalists after the election, Akinyelure lamented his loss in the exercise just as he accused immediate past Governor of the State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko for being the one behind his failure to pick the party’s ticket.

“Though, the election was peaceful and transparent but delegates of Ondo East and Ondo West ganged against me on the instruction of the ex governor ,” he said.