The first phase of the debate for Ondo State Governorship election has been held in Akure with participating candidates reeling out their programs.
The debate is organized by Face The Voters Initiative, a partnership of media organizations and other stakeholders in Ondo State.
Radio Nigeria correspondent John Ebiofini now reports.
John Ebiofini
Voting has started in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP governorship primary election exercise now in progress at The Dome in Akure.
All the eight aspirants were present at the venue of the exercise.
There was a fracas before the accreditation commenced as some party members raised alarm of some already thump-printed ballot papers smuggled into the venue.
This caused disruption of the exercise for a while as some delegates protested the information and subsequently arrested some persons that alleged smuggled in the items.
Normalcy was however restored and the exercise continued with the arrival of the election committee and Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
Before voting commenced, Governor Ugwuanyi said the committee would conduct a credible primary election that would lead to the emergence of the candidate that would fly the party’s flag in the October 10 Guber poll.
Radio Nigeria spoke with some of the delegates after voting and they described the process as free and fair.
The aspirants also lauded the process and promised to embrace the candidate who emerges.
Abiodun Akinluwa/Tosin Ighoteguono
Members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the Southwest have converged on Ibadan, the Oyo State capital to chart a way forward ahead of Ondo state governorship election and the 2023 general elections.
Leaders of the party in the Southwest who spoke during the meeting harped on the unity of the party.
Chairman of PDP, Southwest zone, Dr. Eddy Olafeso, commended the former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, Chief Bode George and the Oyo state governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde and other party faithful for their total loyalty to the party.
Dr Olafeso urged the party faithful not to relent on their oars, rather, they should prepare for the 2023 race.
In a remark, the host governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, promised to continue to work for unity of the party to ensure that PDP keep waxing stronger in the region.
The two-hour meeting had in attendance the former governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose; a former deputy governor of Lagos State, Sen. Kofo Bucknor Akerele; a former deputy governor of Osun State and former Minister of State for Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada; a former PDP southwest Vice Chairman, Chief Olabode George, Dr. Saka Balogun, and Alhaja Bosede Adedibu.
Adebisi Iyabo
