A handful of aspirants in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have been criss-crossing the length and breadth of Ondo State, consulting leaders and party faithful, seeking their support for the topmost job in the State.

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), party primaries in the Ondo State governorship election will start on 6 April and end on 27 April.

The commission also confirmed that 16 of 19 registered political parties have indicated interest in contesting the governorship election in the state.

Although political parties are expected to field a candidate each, the polls, like previous ones, will turn out as two-horse races or at best three-horse races.

The national Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have set in motion the processes guiding their respective primaries.

The PDP has fixed April 15 for a congress where its governorship candidate will emerge.

Nomination and expression of interest forms have already been advertised, and intra-party campaigns have become intense.

One of the talking points among the gladiators is the mode of primaries the various political parties intend to adopt to pick their respective party candidates.

Political watchers and key players believe the outcome of the primaries will go a long way in determining the dimension.

The aspirants in no particular order are as follow:

1. Otunba Bamidele Akingboye – Businessman and philanthropist

2. Hon. Agboola Ajayi – Former Ondo State Deputy Governor

3. Hon. Sheba Abayomi – Former acting national chairman of the Federal Character Commission

4. Chief Sola Ebiseni – Former commissioner and chieftain of Afenifere

5. John Ola Mafo

6. Adeolu Akinwumi

7. Bosun Arebuwa

8. Kolade Akinjo

END.