By Mayowa Olumuyiwa
The Zenith Labour Party in Ondo State have picked a former Commissioner for Works in the state, Engr Gboye Adegbenro, during former Governor Mimiko’s tenure, as the deputy governorship candidate of the party.
The state party chairman, Hon. Joseph Akinlaja, told newsmen in Akure, the state capital, after a meeting held within the party caucus on Saturday, a day after the embattled Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, made a public declaration to join the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
Akinlaja however confirmed that the announcement would be officially made on Monday after concluding the modalities for the substitution of candidates’ names with INEC.
The choice of Adegbenro followed a series of meetings held by the leaders in and outside the state in the last one week.
The deputy governorship candidate popularly called Gboye hails from llara-Mokin in lfedore council area of the state.
KaftanPost correspondent gathered that no fewer than four party chieftains had earlier jostled for the position. They include the former speaker of the state House of Assembly and former Works Commissioner, Rt. Hon Taofiq Olawale Abdusalam, former Woman Affairs commissioner, Simi Odunbaku, and another former commissioner for Natural Resources, Alhaji Kassim Olanrewaju.
The choice of Gboye according to finding include his age, loyalty, popularity and dedication to the party’s philosophy.
He stepped down for the immediate past governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, for the central senatorial ticket during the last general election.
One of the party leaders who spoke with KaftanPost correspondent said that the name of the running mate would be submitted alongside the candidate, Agboola Ajayi, as a replacement for those earlier submitted.
ZLP party chieftains described his choice as acceptable and a plus to the party.
With the choice of Adegbenro coming to play at this crucial period, some political observers within the state strongly believe that the October 10 gubernatorial poll will no doubt be a keen contest.
Other political analysts believed that the choice of Gboye will divide the votes in the central senatorial district where the governorship candidate of the PDP hails from while he will corner votes in his lfedore, ldanre council area being a stronghold for him.
