By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan.
The Publisher of National Mirror Newspapers and the Group Managing Director, Energy Group, Dr Jimoh Ibrahim on Monday emerged the Ondo State governorship candidate for the Senator Ali Modu Sheriff’s faction of the party.
The Alimodu Sheriff faction primary election was conducted at the Banquet Hall, Premier hotel, Ibadan with no visible presence of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
At the Ibadan primary election, Dr Ibrahim polled 502 votes to defeat his only co-contestant, the former Commissioner for Local Government in Ondo State under Dr Olusegun Mimiko administration, Mr Olusola Ebiseni who polled 41 to emerged as the Sheriff’ faction guber candidate with three other aspirants Mrs Abiye Ademuyegun, Honourables Bamiduro Dada and Niran-Sule Akinsuyi stepping down for Dr Ibrahim before the commencent of the election.
Chairman of the factional PDP electoral committee, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak disclosed that Dr Jimoh Ibrahim emerged winner after an open primary election conducted in accordance with the constitution of the party, saying, “Jimoh Ibrahim has emerged the winner after an open and organised gubernatorial election before all the official delegates of PDP in Ondo state”.
“This is internal democracy in action, we have not asked any delegate to vote for anybody or write the name of a particular candidate for the delegates. No governor has written a name for the delegates. We’re law abiding representatives of the party. The delegates and the candidates will be presented with the copy of the result. We won’t change the name of the winner on the way to Abuja” he said.
The winner of the election Dr Ibrahim declared that if elected as the Ondo State Governor in the next polls, his administration would create jobs, establish industrial hub in the state and the educational development in Ondo state.
“I will only occupy one seat in Ondo State and that is the position of the governor of the state by God’s grace, after the governorship election, the rest belongs to the people. I have managed over 8,000 workers, 16 companies and have two national honours. And when you talk of integrity, I have first class integrity,”he said.
Dr Ibrahim added, “I am an employer of over 800 people. Anything Mimiko is not acceptable. He has collected over N1trillion and has destroyed Ondo State over one trillion. I will create jobs and make educational meaningful by introducing school system to prepare a new standard future for our children”.
The process for the primary election started at about 6.48 am with the accreditation of the 801 delegates from the 18 local government areas in the state.
Other members of the electoral committee included Shetima Shehu, Chief Tunji Akinosi, Elder Layi Falaju, Mala Sheriff, Ozo Uchechukwu Ngwu, Bimbo Balogun, Prince Poroye Bill Biyi, Ikenna Nnajioffor, Lawan Gana Karasuwa and the secretary of the committee, Bernand Mikko.
