The two focal candidates for the November 16, 2024 governorship election in Ondo State on Sunday locked horns at the governorship debate in Akure, the state capital.

Though the electoral umpire published the names of 17 parties to produce candidates for the poll, analysts have narrowed the battle royale to a two-horse race.

The two candidates — Agboola Ajayi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the incumbent Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) — both have a common history as deputies to the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.

While Ajayi deputised the late Akeredolu during his first term, Aiyedatiwa was the late governor’s righthand man during his aborted second term.

The debate which started at 7 pm on Sunday is organised by Channels Television in partnership with the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room and the UK International Development.

According to the latest data from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), 2.053 million registered voters will participate in the election.

The electoral umpire also said 64,273 Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) were collected by voters in the state out of the 89,777 cards delivered to the state.