Ondo 2024: Pressure group seeks zoning of governorship position to Akure

A leading socio-political pressure group, the Ondo State Consultative Assembly (OSCA), has urged political parties in the state to zone the governorship position to Akure in the central senatorial district of the state.

This is contained in a letter the group wrote to President Bola Tinubu, the National Chairman of the PDP, his counterpart in the APC as well as those of the Labour Party and the Social Democratic Party.

The letter was signed by OSCA president, Dr Bolarinwa Omotosho, and its General Secretary, Mrs Odunola Ogunmola-Daini.

The group revealed that it is only Akure, among all the major ethnic groups in the state, that has never produced a democratically elected governor since the creation of Ondo State.

“It has become expedient to let the powers that be know the gravity of the injustice being visited on the Akure-speaking communities and towns in the Central Senatorial District of Ondo State since the return to democratic rule in 1999 and much earlier.

“The marginalization of the Akure people has become palpable over the years despite all the support that the people of Akure have given to their brothers and sisters from other parts of the state.”

The OSCA called for the support of the political parties to zone their governorship tickets to the old Akure Division comprising Ilara, Igbaraoke, Ijare, Ipogun, Iju, Itaogbolu, Oba and Idanre.

Our correspondent reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced Nov. 16 as date for off-cycle election in Ondo.

The commission has also published the timetable for activities leading to the governorship elections to be held in Ondo as required by Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022.

In Ondo State, the party primaries are to be held from April 6 to April 27 while the submission of the list of nominated candidates through the online portal will start on April 29 April and close on May 20.

The final list of candidates will be published on Jiune 18 while campaign in public by political parties begins on June 19 and end 24 hours prior to election day on Nov. 14.