The All Progressives Congress (APC), Odigbo Local Council Area of Ondo State, has endorsed Mayowa Akinfolarin as the candidate of the party ahead of the pending bye-election to the Ondo South Senatorial District seat.
Party leaders who converged at the council’s headquarters in Ore to decide who will fly the party’s flag in the bye-election resolved that Akinfolarin’s antecedents as former deputy speaker and federal lawmaker give him an edge over the others.
According to sources within the party, the APC leadership in the state has ceded the ticket to the council.
The Ondo Southern Senatorial District seat would be vacant as soon as the incumbent member of the Senate, Jimoh Ibrahim, resigns upon his confirmation by the Senate on his nomination by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a diplomat-designate.
Speaking at the meeting, the current Chairman of Odigbo Local Government, Taiwo Adegoroye, said the endorsement is rooted in Akinfolarin’s track record and people-centric agenda, which makes him a strong contender for the seat.
He said, “Mayo’s experience as a former Deputy Speaker in the state House of Assembly and a former member of the House of Representatives lends credibility to his choice. The ticket is for the rightful man in the person of Rt Hon Akinfolarin Mayo.”
The council chairman further explained that the Senate seat potentially “ceding” to Odigbo under APC aligns with equity and rotation, saying it’s Odigbo’s turn to represent the Senatorial District, given other local governments’ current roles.
He noted that Odigbo’s electoral strength in terms of voting bloc has influence in the Ondo South Senatorial District.
Adegoroye, who described Akinfolarin as a caring leader, implored all residents of the council to vote for the former member of the House of Representatives during the bye-election.
Notable leaders of APC who also back Akinfolarin as the standard-bearer of the party during the meeting are Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Amidu Takuro, Special Adviser on Special Duties and Union Matters to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Taiwo Bola, and serving member of the state House of Assembly, Samuel Tunji Fabiyi.
Others are former Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Samuel Aderoboye, former chairman of Odigbo Local Government and Commissioner Ajani Oladipupo, Mrs Akinsuroju Margret, Adenikiju George, Prince Momoh Adebola, Chairman of Ifesowapo LCDA Adeolu Akinsemiju, Akindele Fasogbon, Gbenro Akintolayo, Charles Meroyi, Education Secretary Pastor Felix Olatunde, and others.
