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AKURE REPS SEAT: BABATUNDE FARO’S BID RECEIVES BOOST AS PDP ADOPTS ASPIRANT AS CONSENSUS CANDIDATE
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has officially adopted Mr. Babatunde Faro as its consensus candidate for the Akure South/North Federal Constituency ahead of the 2027 House of Representatives election, following the report of a 10-member consensus screening committee constituted by the party leadership.
The committee, inaugurated in line with Section 29 of the Electoral Act 2026 and Article 50(3) of the PDP Constitution 2017 (as amended), held its screening exercise on May 5, 2026, at De Rock View Hotel, Igoba, Akure North. It was tasked with nominating a single candidate to represent the party, with equal representation drawn from Akure North and Akure South Local Government Areas.
According to the report submitted to the State Chairman of the party, the committee was mandated to screen all aspirants, facilitate consensus to avoid a rancorous primary election, ensure fairness and equity between both LGAs, and submit its recommendation before the deadline for nomination form submissions.
The committee comprised respected party leaders including Hon. Olubi Isaac, Mr. Oladimeji Busuyi, Hon. Gbolaro Obe, Hon. Amuja Olusanya, Hon. Aderuku Olusegun, Hon. (Mrs.) Adebisi Funmilola, Hon. Alade Muller, Mr. Ajayi Olorunlogbon, Mr. Egunjobi Tayo, and Barr. Ademola Babalola, who was absent. Members included PDP chairmen from both Akure North and South LGAs as well as party elders.
Out of three aspirants who initially indicated interest in the race, only two—Hon. Sunday Falae and Mr. Babatunde Faro—were screened, as Hon. (Mrs.) Kemisola Adesanya was absent during the exercise.
The screening process evaluated aspirants based on grassroots political structure, financial capacity to fund campaigns without over-reliance on the party, and overall acceptability among party elders.
The committee ultimately adopted Mr. Babatunde Faro from Akure South as the consensus candidate.
The decision was based on his political experience, having contested for the position three times with proven mobilization strength, his high acceptability rating of 70 percent in an elders’ perception survey, and his demonstrated party loyalty despite losing previous primaries twice.
The committee further resolved that Mr. Faro be formally adopted as the PDP candidate, that all party members and structures should mobilize support for him, and that a reconciliation committee be established to address grievances from other aspirants.
In a duly signed report, the committee noted that the consensus approach significantly reduces internal friction and save the party the cost of conducting a primary election.
The report concluded that the consensus arrangement would strengthen party unity and strategically position the PDP to reclaim the federal constituency seat from the APC in the 2027 general election.
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