Three women and 14 men have so far obtained expression of interest and nomination forms as governorship aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State.
Findings by a correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday showed that the figure increased from the initial 12 aspirants to 17 on the midnight of Monday.
Each of the aspirants paid a non-refundable sum of N11 million, being cost of expression of interest and nomination forms.
But the amount was waived for women, who paid only N1 million to the coffers of the party.
With the latest development, 22 aspirants among 39 previously jostling to become candidate of the party might have technically opted out of the race, since the closing date for forms expired on Monday.
Femi Omolusi, spokesperson of the Chairman of the party in the state, Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe, confirmed the figure to NAN.
Names of those who were able to beat the deadline from the Southern Senatorial District of the state were given as: former Minister of Agriculture, Chief Bode Olowoporoku; former Nigerian Ambassador to Canada, Chief Dare Bejide; and Senator Gbenga Aluko.
Others from the District are former deputy Governor of the state. Abiodun Aluko; Bisi Omoyeni; former Afenifere spokesperson, Prince Dayo Adeyeye; and Chief Ropo Ogunbolude.
Those from the Central Senatorial District are former Governor Ayo Fayose; the immediate past Police Affairs Minister, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade; former Personal Assistant to President Olusegun Obasanjo, Bodunde Adeyanju; Alhaja Habibat Adubiaro; Chief Reuben Famuyibo; and Bola Olojede.
The aspirants from the North Senatorial District are Dr. Peter Obafemi; Wale Aribisala; Bosede Bamisaye; and Deji Ajayi.
NAN reports that the party had equally fixed March 15 as the date of its primaries.
Meanwhile, Fayose has vowed not to leave the PDP for another party again, even if he loses the party’s ticket to another person in the primary.
He said his pre-occupation was to see the PDP take over power from the ruling All Progressives Congress on June 21, the date of the governorship election in the state.
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