Rotimi Akeredolu

===Governorship candidate, 2011===
In November 2011, Akeredolu was among a crowd of aspirants to be the [[Action Congress of Nigeria]] (ACN) candidate for governor of Ondo State in the 2012 elections.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.tribune.com.ng/index.php/politics/31340-ondo-2013-acn-and-its-many-aspirants
 |title=Ondo 2013: ACN and its many aspirants
 |author=Yinka Oladoyinbo
 |date=17 November 2011
|accessdate=26 November 2011
|archive-date=19 November 2011
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111119003642/http://www.tribune.com.ng/index.php/politics/31340-ondo-2013-acn-and-its-many-aspirants
 |url-status=live
 }}</ref> During an interview that month, Akeredolu said that he had become well known and respected as president of the Bar, and described himself as a Progressive. If elected, his priorities would include agricultural development, fish farming for export, improvements to education, jobs for youths and improved roads. He would provide free education and primary health care. He was in favour of increased subsidies and greater local control over public spending.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.tribune.com.ng/sun/the-polity/5609-i-am-the-candidate-to-beat-in-ondo-gov-race-akeredolu
 |title=I am the candidate to beat in Ondo gov race – Akeredolu
 |author=AYODELE ADESANMI
 |date=20 November 2011
|work=[[Nigerian Tribune]]
 |accessdate=26 November 2011
|archive-date=23 November 2011
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111123014855/http://www.tribune.com.ng/sun/the-polity/5609-i-am-the-candidate-to-beat-in-ondo-gov-race-akeredolu
 |url-status=live
 }}</ref>

On 28 July 2012, Akeredolu was selected as the Action Congress of Nigeria candidate for governor of [[Ondo State]] during the ACN congress in Akure.<ref>{{cite web|last=Oladesu|first=Emmanuel|title=Akeredolu: We will form next Ondo govt|url=http://campaign.aketi.org/akeredolu-we-will-form-next-ondo-govt/|publisher=The Nation Nigeria|accessdate=19 August 2012|archive-date=5 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120805051635/http://campaign.aketi.org/akeredolu-we-will-form-next-ondo-govt/|url-status=live}}</ref> His selection pitched him in a head-to-head battle with the incumbent, [[Olusegun Mimiko]] and Olusola Oke of the [[Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)|Peoples Democratic Party]] (PDP).<ref>{{cite web|last=Oladoyinbo|first=Yinka|title=Ondo: Mimiko, Oke, Akeredolu emerged gov candidates|url=http://tribune.com.ng/sun/news/8053-ondo-mimiko-oke-akeredolu-emerge-gov-candidates|publisher=Tribune Nigeria Newspaper|accessdate=19 August 2012|archive-date=30 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830100103/http://tribune.com.ng/sun/news/8053-ondo-mimiko-oke-akeredolu-emerge-gov-candidates|url-status=live}}</ref> Akeredolu promised to create 30,000 jobs in his first 100 days in office.<ref>{{cite web
|url= http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/news/56276-akeredolu%E2%80%99s-promise-to-create-30%2C000-jobs-is-real%2C-says-spokesman.html
|title= Akeredolu's promise to create 30,000 jobs is real
|date= 7 October 2021
|publisher= The Nation Newspaper
|access-date= 19 August 2012
|archive-date= 8 June 2022
|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220608044024/https://thenationonlineng.net/
|url-status= live
}}</ref> His promise was refuted by the (PDP) as a ruse.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://thewillnigeria.com/general/15442-Akeredolus-Promise-30000-Jobs-Ruse-Says-PDP.html
|title=Akeredolu's Promise of 30,000 Jobs Is A Ruse
|publisher=The Will Nigeria
|access-date=19 August 2012
|archive-date=6 August 2012
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120806082736/http://thewillnigeria.com/general/15442-Akeredolus-Promise-30000-Jobs-Ruse-Says-PDP.html
|url-status=live
}}</ref>

On 3 September 2016, Akeredolu was awarded the ticket to represent the newly merged [[All Progressives Congress]] (APC) in the 2016 elections for Governor. On 27 November 2016, he was declared winner of the keenly contested [[2016 Ondo State gubernatorial election]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.naij.com/1063787-read-akeredolus-reaction-inning-ondo-governorship-election.html?source=notification|title=Read Akeredolus Reaction Inning Ondo Governorship Election|work=www.naij.com|date=27 November 2016|accessdate=27 November 2016|archive-date=27 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161127215007/https://www.naij.com/1063787-read-akeredolus-reaction-inning-ondo-governorship-election.html?source=notification|url-status=live}}</ref>