Ahead of the 2022 governorship election in Ekiti State, aspirants from the opposition, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) are already gearing up for the contest that will produce the party’s candidate for the governorship poll.

Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had fixed June 18, 2022 for Ekiti governorship election in Ekiti state, four months before the completion of Dr Kayode Fayemi’s second tenure.

To this end, on Monday, the PDP held a screening exercise at the NWC Hall of the PDP national secretariat, Abuja for seventeen contenders.

However, among these aspirants are three who would be needed to watch out for, because of their political prowess.

First among them is the Senator representing Ekiti South in the National Assembly, Biodun Olujimi

The political experience of Olujimi, who is a two term Senator, former House of Representatives member and a former deputy governor is believed to be an edge over other candidates.

Besides, the agitation that the next Governor of the state must come from the South is also in favour of the astute politician, since she hails from that zone of the state.

The agitators had argued that for the sake of equity and fair play, the South Senatorial District should be given the privilege to represent the state in the next governorship race, having not smelled the seat sice the state was created 25 years ago.

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Similarly, the Southern Senatorial District is known to have the highest number of LGAs, but yet, it has never produced an elected Governor of Ekiti State.

Moreover, a former Ekiti State Governor, Chief Segun Oni, is another major contestant to look out for in the Ekiti 2022 gubernatorial race.

The former Governor of Ekiti State who served between May 29, 2007, and October 14, 2010 said his desire to return to office is premised on the yearnings of Ekiti people to have him back in the continuation of his enduring legacies.

Oni is from Ifaki in the North Senatorial District of Ekiti state.

Another major contender under the PDP platform is a former state chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Kolawole; who is also known to be the preferred candidate of former governor, Ayo Fayose.

Kolawole, who hails from Efon Alaaye in the Ekiti Central Senatorial District, was a former House of Assembly member from 2007 to 2011 and Commissioner for Environment under the administration of Fayose between 2014 and 2018.

He’s known to be riding on the wings of the popularity of his political ‘godfather’, Fayose and as a result, cannot be pushed aside in the governorship race.

The former Ekiti governor had described Kolawole as a bridge builder, who would usher in a better future for Ekiti and the party.

Consequently, with just about seven months to the Ekiti 2022 governorship election, it is hoped that the best candidate will emerge as the PDP’s flag bearer.