Parties’ Substantive Running Mates Emerge

By Kehinde Ayantunji

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has settled for Mr Benedict Olugboyega Alabi, as the running mate for its governorship candidate, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola.

This is just as the Action Democratic Party (ADP) has chosen Professor Adeolu Durotoye as the running mate to Alhaji Moshood Adeoti.

Olugboyega, popularly called BOA was one of the APC aspirants, while Durotoye was one of the Peoples Democratic Party governorship aspirants who later defected to the ADP after the primary election.

The confirmations of the duo were made on Tuesday.

While Olugboyega hails from Ikire, Durotoye is an indigene of Osogbo.

Also, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has replaced Honourable Olalekan Ayanbeku with Lawal Azeez Olayemi as the running mate to Senator Iyiola Omisore.

Meanwhile, Honourable Albert Adeogun remains the running mate to Senator Ademola Adeleke following the failure of the Adeleke camp to honour the agreement that the slot would be conceded to the other camp of Dr Akin Ogunbiyi.

It would be recalled that it was reported by this medium last week how political parties presented tentative names as running mate to INEC and shopping for popular candidates in replacement.

Olugboyega attended Holy Cross Catholic Primary School, Ikire before proceeding to Baptist Grammar School, Ikire and Lagos African Church Grammar School, Ifako-Agege. He later attended The Polytechnic Ibadan to study Banking in 1983.

He obtained a Bachelor Degree in Banking and Finance from Olabisi Onabanjo University Ogun State and a Masters degree in Economics (with specialization in International Development) from the University of Lagos.

For many years, Olugboyega worked in the financial sector cutting across various institutions and departments, among which are Societe Generale Bank (now Heritage Bank), Neighborhood Building Society Limited, Transnational Building Society Limited and left his last position as General Manager of Sterling Bank Plc.

He later set up his own company, Eliezer Workplace Management Limited, which is into facility management. With a clear vision, he nurtured and grew the company to an award winning entity with certification in compliance from ISO 9001:2008 and BS OHSAS 18001:2007 as well as the British Safety Council.

Olugboyega has attended numerous training and conferences both home and abroad, and has been a recipient of many awards, as the Group President/CEO of Eliezer Workplace Management Limited. He has interest in other areas like agriculture and manufacturing.

Olugboyega’s political strength being one of the APC aspirants from Osun West is a plus for the APC in the zone come the September 22 election.

Durotoye, on his own part is a Professor of Political Science and presently the Provost of Social and Management Sciences at Afe Babalola University.

He attended Oke Iragbiji Grammar school between 1979 and 1982 before moving to Ilobu Secondary Commercial Grammar school where he concluded his O-level certificate in 1984. He was at Osogbo Grammar school for his A-level between 1984 and 1986. He went on to study Political Science at the University of Lagos where he graduated in 1990.

He got his masters degree from the same university in 1992. He was a German scholar having studied at the University of Leipzig between 1997 and 2001 where he got his PhD graduating with Magna Cum Laude (DISTINCTION). He has been a journalist with the Guardian newspaper and African Concord Magazine. He equally taught politics at different times at the University of Ibadan, University of Toronto and Afe Babalola University. He is an administrator, public affairs analyst, motivational speaker, University teacher and provost as well as preacher.

Adeogun on his own is presently a member of the Federal House of Representatives, representing Ife Federal Constituency and he hail from Ife.