The Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has adopted Mr Babatunde Faro as its consensus candidate for the Akure South/Akure North Federal Constituency ahead of the 2027 House of Representatives election.
The decision followed the recommendation of a 10-member consensus screening committee set up by the party leadership to streamline the emergence of a single candidate for the contest.
The committee conducted its screening exercise on May 5, 2026, at De Rock View Hotel, Igoba, Akure North, in line with the provisions of Section 29 of the Electoral Act 2026 and Article 50(3) of the PDP Constitution 2017 as amended.
According to the report submitted to the state chairman of the party, the committee was mandated to screen aspirants, promote consensus among contenders, ensure fairness between Akure North and Akure South local government areas, and submit its recommendation ahead of the deadline for nomination submissions.
Members of the panel included 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, and Mr Egunjobi Tayo, while Barr. Ademola Babalola was absent.
The committee reportedly comprised party elders and PDP chairmen from both Akure North and Akure South councils.
Although three aspirants had earlier shown interest in the race, only Hon. Sunday Falae and Faro appeared before the screening panel, as Hon. (Mrs.) Kemisola Adesanya was absent during the exercise.
The aspirants were assessed based on their grassroots political structures, financial strength to prosecute campaigns independently, and acceptability among party stakeholders and elders.
At the end of the exercise, the committee unanimously adopted Faro, an indigene of Akure South, as the party’s consensus candidate.
The report stated that the decision was influenced by Faro’s political experience, his repeated participation in previous contests for the seat, and what the panel described as his strong mobilisation capacity across the constituency.
It also noted that he recorded a 70 per cent acceptability rating in an elders’ perception survey conducted during the screening process and remained loyal to the party despite losing previous primary elections.
The committee further recommended that party members and structures across the constituency should unite behind Faro’s candidacy, while a reconciliation panel should be constituted to address grievances arising from the consensus arrangement.
According to the report, the adoption of a consensus candidate would help the PDP avoid internal disputes and reduce the financial burden associated with conducting a primary election.
The panel expressed optimism that the arrangement would strengthen party unity and improve the PDP’s chances of reclaiming the federal constituency seat from the All Progressives Congress in the 2027 general election.
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