Outgoing Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has picked a member representing Egbado South and Ipokia Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Abdulkabir Adekunle Akinlade as his preferred candidate to fly the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for 2019 governorship election the state.
Amosun had promised Ogun indigenes a ‘whiz kid’ and Muslim candidate as his successor.
The 48-year old Akinlade had served as the Senior Special Assistant on Taxation and Revenue to Amosun between 2011 and 2014 before he was elected into the lower chamber of the National Assembly in 2015.
He hails from Ogun West Senatorial District, popularly known as Yewa/Awori District, the region which has not produced governor since creation of Ogun State in 1976.
The governor had promised to make public his candidate today if all aspirants fail to agree on a consensus candidate.
Among those jostling for the ticket from Ogun West are, Amosun’s Chief of Staff, Tolu Odebiyi, Speaker of Ogun Assembly, Suraj Adekunbi and some commissioners in the State Executive Council.
Other Senatorial Districts have aspirants battling for APC ticket, but the governor had openly declared his support for Yewa/Awori District.
Dailytrust learnt that Akinlade was picked as consensus candidate by Ogun West Elders after a long meeting held overnight to decide on long list of governorship aspirants from the zone.
Our correspondent recalls that the APC stakeholders at a meeting on Wednesday adopted consensus candidate in determining the party’s governorship flagbearer.
Amosun is expected to present Akinlade to the party later in the day.
