By   Dayo Johnson
THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday picked their deputy governorship candidates ahead of the November 26 election.

A former Information, Youths and Strategies Commissioner, Council Chairman of Ilaje/Ese-Odo and the Chairman of the Ondo State Football Agency (ODSFA), Prince  John Ola Mafo who hails from Zion Pepe, Ilaje council area of the State was picked as the running mate to Eyitayo Jegede SAN

Vanguard gathered that Mafo beat 17 other prospective candidates to emerge the preferred choice of the party.

Also, a former Ese-Odo Council Chairman and a former member House of Representative Hon Agboola Ajayi was picked as the running mate of the APC governorship candidate, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN. Ajayi also defeated over 20 other prospective candidates to emerge the running mate to Akeredolu.

Mafo:PDP deputy governorship candidate and Agboola:APC deputy governorship candidate

Decision making

A statement by the  party’s Publicity Secretary Banji Okunomo said the credentials of Mafo qualified him for the position.

According to Okunomo, the decision to pick Mafo was taken by the highest decision-making body of the PDP in Ondo State.

He said: “At the highest decision-making body of Ondo State Peoples Democratic Party today, the PDP resolved on the choice of Ola Mafo as the Deputy Governorship candidate of the party.

The party took this far-reaching decision after considering all factors that would lead to its victory at the poll.

“The party weighed a number of options including the credentials of Ola Mafo which ranged from being a former chairman of Ilaje local government area of Ondo State, former Commissioner for Information in Ondo State.

Okunomo who said that the choice of Mafo was based on equity and political balance noted that “For equity and balance, it is apposite for the party to uphold his nomination as the Deputy Governorship candidate.

“His name has been forwarded to the INEC as the Deputy Governorship candidate of the PDP. With this development, all party members are further directed to go about their normal campaign, this time, around for the Eyitayo/Mafo ticket.

The Publicity Secretary of the APC, Abayomi Akinsanya  said that the choice of Agboola Ajayi was made following the report of the five-member screening Committee put in place by the governorship candidate and led by one of the aspirants Jumoke Anifowose.

Agboola who hails from Ese-Odo in the South was picked because of his political reach, ability to finance the campaign and the fact that he would be able to wrestle Olusola Oke in the area.