Agunloye, who was the sole aspirant in the party’s primary election, was unanimously adopted by the 310 delegates across the 18 local government areas of the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Agunloye is a former Minister of Power who served during the tenure of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Agunloye was also pioneer Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).

In his acceptance speech, Agunloye thanked the party members and the chairman of the congress committee for finding him worthy to carry the flag of the party in the forthcoming gubernatorial election.

“I humbly accept the flag of the party and the responsibility associated with it.

“I assure you that I will not let the party down and will carry the flag to victory and install it high at the government house of Ondo State in February 2017,’’ he said.

Earlier, the state chairman of SDP, Chief Korede Duyile, said the primary election was being conducted in line with the INEC guidelines.

“The directive from INEC guideline stipulates that all participating parties should conduct their primary elections between Aug.18 and Sept.19, 2016.

“Here we are today, Aug.20, holding our congress; the very first party to do so in Ondo State.

“ This shows our level of preparation for the election and pointer to our readiness for governance.

“I want to make it known to all delegates in our congress today that our sole aspirant, Dr Olu Agunloye, has been a man tested in public offices in the past and has been successful in all,’’ he said.

Duyile, therefore, called on security agencies to take appropriate measures to ensure safety of the people in the state before, during and after the election.

“ Those who go to villages with cutlasses during election should be stopped by all means before the generality of the people react in their own ways,’’ he said.

The state SDP chairman also called on traditional rulers, elder statesmen, community leaders and parents to prevail on other political parties to shun violence.

NAN reports that the SDP primary election committee was chaired by the National Deputy Chairman of the party, Mr AbdulAmed Ishaq.