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Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu has emerged the Ondo State APC candidate
for the forthcoming gubernatorial election; having won the party’s Primary
Election. Akeredolu scored 669 votes to beat his closer rival Mr. Olusegun
Abraham who had a total 635 votes.
In his response, Mr. Akeredolu expressed appreciation to the
delegates, security agents and, returning officer and Governor of Jigawa State,
Abubakar Badaru for conducting a credible primary devoid of endorsement and
imposition.
He called on all other aspirants who contested with him to
join him to build a new State.
One of the main contender, Mr. Olusola Oke who scored a
total of 576 votes to come third, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of
the primary and promised to remain in the party to work for the victory of the
party's candidate, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu.
A total of 2,774 delegates voted in the primary.
The only female aspirant of the Party, Mrs. Jumoke Anifowose
scored only one vote.
The primary election ended on Sunday morning by 2am
Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) who became President of
the Nigerian Bar Association in 2008.
Akeredolu was born on 21 July, 1956 in Owo to
Reverend J. Ola Akeredolu of the Akeredolu family and Lady Evangelist Grace B.
Akeredolu of Aderoyiju family of Igbotu, Ese Odo, in Ondo State. Akeredolu started his primary education at
Government School, Owo. He proceeded to Aquinas College, Akure, Loyola College, Ibadan and Comprehensive High School, Ayetoro, for his Secondary School Education and Higher School Certificate, respectively. He attended the Loyola College in Ibadan. His middle name "Odunayo" means "Year of Happiness" in Yoruba. He went on to the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) to study Law, graduating in 1977. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1978.
Akeredolu was appointed Attorney
General of Ondo State from 1997–1999. In 1998, he became a Senior Advocate
of Nigeria. He was Chairman of the Legal Aid Council (2005–2006). In
November 2009, he faced allegations of corruption when the Bar Association's
Third Vice-President, Welfare Secretary and Assistant Financial Secretary
circulated a petition entitled "Complaints against your fraudulent manifestations,
violation of the NBA". Subsequently, the allegations against him were
reviewed and dropped by the National Executive council of the Nigerian Bar Association.
In a lecture in December 2009,
Akeredolu said no amount of electoral reform or judicial system could give
Nigeria free and fair elections, if Nigerians themselves refused to take
practical steps to ensure that their votes count. Later that month, he
stated that Umaru Yar'Adua, the President of Nigeria should
have handed over to Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan in an acting
capacity during his illness, a statement that was backed up by the Nigerian Bar
Association who said he was authorized to speak on their behalf.
In 2012, the Nigerian Bar
Association named its new secretariat in Abuja after him with its president
citing the reason being the need for "generational identification and
recognition of those who had contributed immensely to the development of the
association. Everything in the NBA is usually highly politicized. The sheer
courage for him (Akeredolu) to go through the rigour is a testimony to his
selfless service."
In November 2011, Akeredolu was among
a crowd of aspirants to be Action
Congress of Nigeria (ACN)
candidate for Governor of Ondo State in the 2013 elections.] In
an interview that month, Akeredolu said that he had become well known and
respected as president of the Bar, and described himself as a progressive. If
elected, his priorities would include agricultural development, fish farming
for export, improvements to education, jobs for youths and improved roads. He
would provide free education and primary health care. He was in favour of
increased subsidies and greater local control over public spending.
On 28 July
2012, On Akeredolu was selected as the Action
Congress of Nigeria (ACN)
candidate for Governor of Ondo State during the ACN congress in Akure. His selection pitched him
in a head to head battle with the incumbent, Olusegun Mimiko and Mr. Olusola Oke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Akeredolu promised to create 30,000
jobs in his first 100 days in office. His
promise was refuted by the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) as a ruse. His promise nonetheless resulted in
the submission of over 10,000 CV's to his campaign office.
On Saturday
September 3rd, 2016, he won the sole ticket to represent the All Progressive
Congress (APC) at their primary conducted in Ondo State to represent the party
at the forth-coming 2016 elections.
CREDITS
REPORT: KINGSLEY UCHEGBU
PROFILE: WIKIPEDIA
PICTURE: INFORMATIONNG.COM
