A former National President of the Nigerian Medical Association, Prof. Dayo Faduyile, has emerged as the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress for the Ondo South Senatorial District bye-election scheduled for June 20 by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Prof. Faduyile, a forensic pathologist and scholar who served as the National President of the NMA from 2018 to 2020, secured the party’s ticket at the APC primary conducted across the 66 wards of the Ondo South Senatorial District on Sunday.
Announcing the final results at the collation venue at Stella Maris College in Okitipupa, the APC Senatorial Returning Officer, Hon. Gbenga Osedele, said the total number of registered voters across the wards stood at 63,404, while 22,818 members participated in the exercise.
According to Osedele, Faduyile emerged victorious after polling 16,312 votes to defeat other major contenders, including former Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Jumoke Akindele, and former Secretary to the State Government, Princess Oladunni Odu, among others.
In his acceptance speech on Monday, Prof. Faduyile described his emergence as a collective victory for the party and stressed the need for unity ahead of the bye-election.
He said the support he received from party stakeholders and members across the district was overwhelming.
“Today as we all stand on the threshold of history once again in Ondo South Senatorial District as a progressive team of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) we have set the record straight that with a collaborative effort, we can bond together to move this our cherished district to a greater height.
“I am more than delighted to state that the support I have received in this humble bid to participate in the Ondo South Senatorial District by-election has been overwhelming. It is a time tested truth that participatory democracy is buoyed by the rule of the thumb which only the voters can give.
“As the APC family has deemed it fit to affirm my aspiration to make for the 10th Senate to complete an already ongoing term, I say with all sense of appreciation that your support at the Primary makes me feel humbled,” he said.
Prof. Faduyile, an Okitipupa-born politician, also commended Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for providing what he described as a level playing field that ensured a transparent and participatory primary process.
He further praised the immediate past senator representing Ondo South, Jimoh Ibrahim, saying his leadership laid a strong foundation in the district.
“My special gratitude goes to The Executive Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, whose leadership and support for my humble stride have been salutary.
“Our amiable Governor has provided an enabling environment for a participatory process that has consolidated greatly the gains of democracy which is hinged on the collective input of card carrying party members as seen during the seamless process of the party’s primary for The Ondo South Senatorial Rerun election. I cannot thank Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa enough for the level playing field provided for the shadow poll.
“It is an obvious truth that the immediate past Senator representing Ondo South in The 10th Senate, Amb.(Sen) Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim, CFR, laid a formidable foundation and has given unquantifiable quality leadership. I must say with all sense of commitment that I feel more humbled as the candidate of our great party to continue on his commendable strides in the 10th Senate. I thank Amb. Jimoh Ibrahim specially for the trust he reposed in my candidacy and the candid advice he has offered in the build up to the shadow election,” the APC candidate said.
Faduyile pledged to build on the achievements of his predecessor if elected and called on other aspirants to unite behind the party ahead of the bye-election.
He also linked his ambition to the broader political direction of the APC, expressing commitment to the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of President Bola Tinubu.
The APC candidate applauded party leaders and members for their confidence in his candidacy and assured constituents of his readiness to represent Ondo South and advance development in the district at the National Assembly.
