Ahead of the 2019 general elections, some notable politicians in Ondo state have indicated their interest to contest the Senate or the House of Reps Seats. Though, some have shown their interests, while others are yet to take the plunge. Besides, some of the current lawmakers in the National Assembly to return. In this report, City People’s Adeola Shittu brings you the list of a few aspirants to House of Reps and Senate across the three senatorial districts and the 6 federal constituencies in Ondo State.
HON. OLABODE O AYORINDE
Hon. Olabode Oluwasola Ayorinde is a member of the Federal House of Representatives, representing Owo/Ose Federal Constituency on the platform of APC. Achiever as he is fondly called by his political associates runs one of the leading private institutions in Nigeria called Achiever University, Owo in Ondo State. He contestsed the last Ondo governorship race. This academician, accountant-cum-lawyer turned politician is seeking re-election, but has defected to PDP to realise his ambition.
HON TEMITAYO OLUWATUYI
A trained accountant-cum-politician started his political career in 2009, when he was appointed a caretaker Chairman of Akure South Local Government between June 24, 2009 and- July 2011. He recorded laudable programmes and achievements. He later became a Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs (Sept 2011 to Feb 2013) under the administration of a former Gov. Olusegun Mimiko. He had since dumped PDP for APC. Aside being a politician, he runs his Accountancy General Merchandise and Management Consultancy Services with its head office in Akure and branches in Ibadan, Abuja, Abeokuta and Lagos.
HON. OLOWOOKERE AJISAFE
Hon. Ajiafe Olowookere is an indigene of Akure. He is a member of the Federal House of Representatives, representing Akure North/South Federal Constituency in Abuja on the platform of APC. He started up as a supervisory councilor for Health, Social Services and Women Affairs, Akure Local Government from 1991 to 1993. He was Deputy Majority Leader of the Ondo State House of Assembly from 2001 to 2003, during which he was the Chairman Appropriation Committee and Chairman Tenders Committee. He is re-contesting the seat but yet to reveal his political party.
HON FEMI ADEKANMBI
Talk of one stylish and fashion icon commissioners, who served under the administration of the a former governor of Ondo State, Dr.Olusegun Mimiko and Asiwaju Femi Adekanmbi’s name will be mentioned. This successful businessman-cum-politician, who hails from Owo local government area of Ondo State ventured into politics in 2011 when he contested a seat in the House of Reps on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) before he left to join PDP. He is a former Ondo State Commissioner for Culture, Tourism and Special Duties. All things being equal, he is said to be eyeing Owo/Ose Federal Constituency Seat.
HON BAYO ALARAPON
He is one of the Bashorun of Akure Kingdom. Though, much is not known about his political background, but he was a two-term-chairman of Akure South Local Government area during the immediate past governor Olusegun Mimiko’s administration. This former ALGON chairman is one of the top politicians eyeing Akure South/North Federal Constituency ticket.
HON KAYODE AKINMADE
A renowned journalist-cum-politician. He hails from Idanre local government area of Ondo State. He started his journalism at The News Group, where he served as the Lagos State House of Assembly Correspondent before he resigned his appointment in 1996 to become an Assistant Editor at the now defunct Diet Newspaper till year 2000. Hon. Kayode later joined the Tribune Group in January 2000 and left the popular tabloid giant in year 2007 having worked as the Lagos Bureau Chief. He subsequently got appointed as the Special Adviser on Media and Strategies to the former Speaker, Federal House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Dimeji Bankole. He served as the Commissioner for Information in 2013 under the administration of a former Gov. Olusegun Mimiko. He has since indicated his interest to contest the House of Rep ticket on his party, PDP, to represent Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency at the lower chamber of the National Assembly.
ENGR. GBOYE ADEGBENRO
He hails from Ilara Mokin In Ifedore Local Government area of Ondo State. He attended Ondo State University (now University of Ado Ekiti). Ekiti State University for his B.sc in engineering project management, Though, much is not known about his political background, but his 2nd term appointment as the Ondo State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure fully launched him into politics during the administration of a former Gov, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko. He is eyeing the Ondo Central Senatorial seat come 2019, under the auspices of PDP.
OTUNBA NICHOLAS TOFOOWOMO
Otunba is an industrious son of Ile-Oluji. This former 2-term Commissioner for Transport is also eyeing a Senate seat come 2019 to represent Ondo South Senatorial District..
SENATOR PATRICK AYO AKINYELURE
He was the Labour Party’s candidate for Ondo Central Senatorial election in 2008, but lost to a former Senator, Gbenga Ogunniya. In 2011, he re contested and won the Ondo Central Senatorial seat and served for 4 years on the platform of Labour Party and in 2015, he re-contested under the auspices of the PDP, but lost to the incumbent. He is eyeing the Ondo Central senatorial district seat but his political party yet to be unveiled.
AMBASSADOR OMOLADE OLUWATERU
He is, indeed, one of the prominent elder statesmen of PDP. He was a former deputy governor to the late Agagu and he also served as an ambassador to Uganda during a former president, Goodluck Jonathan-led administration. Come 2019, he is contesting Ondo Central Senatorial seat on the platform of PDP.
BARRISTERÂ SOLA EBISENI
This lawyer-cum-politician was a former Commissioner for Environment during a former governor Mimiko’s 8yrs administration before he resigned to join Ondo 2016 governorship election. He is another top contender in the Ondo South Senatorial race. He has indicated interest on the platform of PDP.
SENATOR OMOTAYO ALASOADURA DONALD
He is an indigene of Iju in Akure north local government area of Ondo State. He is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Upstream Petroleum and a member of Ethics and Privileges. This grassroots politician with over 2 decades experience, having served as the Commissioner for Finance and Planning Ondo State during the late Gov. Agagu administration left PDP for ACN now APC, in 2012 and 2016, he contested the governorship seat, but lost the two attempts. This Senator, representing Ondo Central Senatorial District, is seeking 2nd term to the Senate on the platform of APC.
HON. DAYO OMOLAFE
Expensive as he is fondly called Omolafe is one of the leading House of Reps. aspirants in Ondo State. He is contesting on the platform of PDP for Akure South/North Federal Constituency. He was a former Chairman, Akure South Local Government and a former coordinator of Sure-p.
HON. ALEX ADEYINKA
He was the immediate past member of House of Assembly. representing Akoko North West/East Constituency. Banso as fondly called, is contesting Akoko Northwest/North East Federal Constituency on the platform of PDP.
HON. BABATUNDE KOLAWOLE
He is a current member House of Reps. representing Akoko South-West/South East Federal Constituency. Amechi as fondly called by political associates has brought dividend of democracy to his Federal Constituency. Though, he contested under the auspices of APC, but no one knows which party he is going to contest on.
HON. DAYO AWUDE
Hon. Dayo Awude was a former media person of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba, Ondo. He was a former chief protocol to former governor Olusegun Mimiko and he was later appointed Board Chairman, Ondo State Scholarship Board and Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development, all during Mimiko’s administration. He is aspiring to represent the Akure South/North Federal Constituency in the House of Reps on the platform of PDP.
- OLUSEGUN ALONGE
Dr. Olusegun Philips Alonge aka OPA hails from Akoko Northwest Local Government Area of Ondo State. He is a polymath. He is contesting the Ondo North Senatorial District ticket come 2019 on the platform of PDP.
HON. GBOYEGA ADEFARATI
Gboyega Adefarati is the son of a Ondo State former Governor the late Pa. Adebayo Adefarati, aside politics, he runs his personal business. He is the Commissioner for Agriculture in Arakunrin Akeredolu-led administration. This politician who hails from Akungba Akoko is eyeing a seat to represent Akoko.
HON. MARTINS ABITOYE
This philanthropist-cum-politician emerged the PDP’s candidate in 2015 for Akoko Southeast/West Federal Constituency. Then PDP in Ondo State had two fractions, so he emerged candidate of one of the factions. Come 2019, he has also indicated interest to contest a seat in the House of Reps on the platform of PDP to represent Akoko Southwest/Southeast Federal Constituency.
BARRISTERÂ BUSUYI LAWANI
BJ Lawani as fondly called was a retired permanent secretary in the service of Ondo State. He is a legal luminary and a philanthropist. He is contesting the seat of Akoko Southwest/East Federal Constituency.
PRINCE AFOLABI OBASUYI
Prince Afolabi Obasuyi (PAO) FCIDA is the Chairman/CEO Poinsett Group Nigeria Ltd. He has been in Ondo State politics for some years. He was in Labour Party before he joined APC. He is eyeing the Ondo Central Senatorial seat on APC.
HON. BABTUNDE GABRIEL KOLAWOLE
Hon Babatunde Kolawole fondly called Amechi of Ondo State by his political associates is the Federal House of Representatives lawmaker representing Akoko South West/Akoko South East Federal Constituency. Earlier, he was a Senior Planning Officer, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) Abuja. He is seeking a re-election to represent Akoko South West/South East Federal Constituency, though his political party is yet to be unveiled.
AKOGUN ADETOKUNBO MODUPE
Tokunbo Modupe is known as a cosmopolitan media guru, who has been involved at the highest level of his Public Relations practice for over two decades, holding briefs for local and international firms . Despite his successful and impressive career as a very big player in the PR industry, many do not even know that his PR Firm, THE PREFERRED TEAM [TPT] has held briefs for many frontline politicians, whose accounts the firm has managed successfully. He was the Director General of President Jonathan/Sambo re-election campaign in Ondo State in 2015. He started his politics in 2007 with Labour Party, but he would be contesting the Ondo North Senatorial Seat on the platform of PDP.
BARR.MORAYO LEBI
Lebi is a Legal Luminary, Philanthropist, Motivator, Visionary Leader and Scholar. He is from Akotogbo/Ajagbu in Irele Local Government. He is the Chairman of EMEL Oil & Gas Limited, the Principal Partner of Morayo Lebi & Co and EMEL Multi Projects Limited. This lawyer, business guru-cum-politician was the candidate of the Ondo South Senatorial district on the platform of All Progressives, Congress (APC) in 2015 and he is said to be contesting the same seat in the forthcoming general elections.
OLUTOYIN ABITOYE
This UK-based medical doctor hails from Owo and he is a son of  popular Dr. (Chief) Adewunmi Abitoye who runs the popular Abitoye Hospital. He is contesting Owo/ Ose Federal Constituency seat on the platform of PDP.
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