Ahead of the Ondo State governorship election on November 16, 2024, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has released its schedule and activities that will lead to the selection of a candidate by the party on April 25, 2024.
The APC calendar released on Monday evening was signed by the party’s national organising secretary, Sulaimon Argungu.
According to the party, the sale of nominations, expressions of interest, and delegate forms for candidates will begin on April 3 and end on April 10, 2024, while the primary elections are scheduled for April 25, 2024.
Similar to the Edo State governorship primary election, where Okpebholo emerged as the standard bearer on Monday, the APC pegged the expression of interest and nomination forms for Ondo at N10 million and N40 million, respectively.
The party said aspirants and people with disabilities would have to pay for the expression of interest, while the nomination form was free.
“Youths from 25 to 40 years are to purchase Expression of Interest forms with a 50% discount on Nomination Forms,” the APC stated.
Among the main candidates for the APC candidature in Ondo is Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, a former deputy governor of Ondo who succeeded the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu upon his death on December 27, 2023.
The state’s former Commissioner for Finance, Wale Akinterinwa; and Ondo South Senator Jimoh Ibrahim also want the party’s candidature.
Ondo and Edo are two of the eight states where gubernatorial elections are held out of season due to litigation and court rulings. The others are Anambra, Bayelsa, Ekiti, Imo, Kogi, and Osun.
In the two states where gubernatorial elections are taking place this year,political gladiators are already clashing.
19 political parties are expected to field one candidate each, but the polls, like previous ones, will result in a two-horse or at best three-horse race.
