Forty-eight of the party’s 53 divisions named the Kota Marudu MP, who is currently the party’s deputy president, as their candidate for president.
The nomination papers from two divisions were disqualified while three others did not contain any names of candidates.
It is now a matter of formality before Ongkili takes over from PBS founder Joseph Pairin Kitingan, who has been president for 33 years.
Pairin has announced earlier that he would be stepping down as president.
In announcing the candidates for PBS’ top leadership posts at the party’s headquarters in Penampang near here today, its secretary-general Johnny Mositun said the party polls will be held from Nov 15 to 17.
He said other posts will see healthy competition, particularly the race for the deputy president’s post for the non-Muslim Bumiputera slot, which will see five contenders.
They are vice-presidents Radin Malleh and Daniel Kinsik, Kiulu assemblyman and Supreme Council member Joniston Bangkuai, Kundasang assemblyman Dr Joachim Gunsalam and Mositun himself.
A candidate is able to contest if he or she received a minimum of three nominations from the divisions. Malleh received the highest with 23 nominations followed by Bangkuai at 11.
Mositun and Gunsalam received four each while Kinsik got 3.
“This is good because there is good competition all around and shows the party is still relevant. There’s plenty of interest in the leadership,” Mositun said.
He said previously, the battle for the deputy president’s post was a straight fight between Ongkili and Henrynus Amin who has since quit the party to lead Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri.
The deputy president’s post also has slots for the Muslim Bumiputera and Chinese.
Senator Jamilah Sulaiman will be defending her post against information chief Jahid Jahim, who is also Tamparuli assemblyman, for the Muslim Bumiputera slot, while Dr Yee Moh Chai is also defending his post against former state assistant minister Edward Yong Oui Fah for the Chinese slot.
As for the vice president’s post, there will be 16 people vying for the post in their respective segments while the women chief’s race will see Tandek assemblyman Anita Baranting defending her position against Malianah Ugau.
Meanwhile, PBS acting youth chief Christopher Mandut will be vying for the party’s youth chief post against Marius Masain.