The APC announced in a statement on Thursday, July 16, 2020 that a dozen aspirants were cleared by the state's screening committee.

To advance his second term bid, Akeredolu will have to defeat other aspirants including Olusola Oke Alex, Joseph Olusola Iji, Odimayo Okunjemi John, Olayide Owolabi Adelami, and Kekemeke Duerimini Isaacs.

Other aspirants listed by the party are Ifeoluwa Olusola Oyedele, Olajumoke Olubusola Anifowoshe, Awodeyi Akinsehinwa Akinola, Adetula Olubukola Olarogha, Dr Abraham Olusegun Michael, and Dr Nathaniel O. Adojutelegan.

The party's primary election will take place on July 20, according to the statement signed by its deputy national secretary, Yekini Nabena.

In a separate statement on Thursday, Nabena announced Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, as chairman of the APC's Ondo State Governorship Primary Election Committee.

The main governorship election will take place on October 10, according to the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

If he wins the APC's ticket, Akeredolu's potential opponent could be his current deputy governor, Agboola Ajayi, who recently dumped the APC for the People's Democratic Party (PDP) to enable him contest for the governor's seat.

Attempts by the Ondo House of Assembly to impeach Ajayi for alleged gross misconduct, following his defection, recently hit a brick wall when the state's chief judge, Oluwatoyin Akeredolu (SAN), rejected a request to set up an investigative panel to investigate the allegations.