By Banji Ayoola
The chances of the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in next week’s governorship election in Ondo State, Mr Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, got a boost on Monday as eleven participating political parties collapsed their structures in his support.
They declared their new position at a press conference held at the PDP state secretariat in Akure, the state capital, where they described their collaboration as “an organised effort to save Ondo State from political quagmire and undesirable socioeconomic predicament of our people.”
Altogether, 17 parties are participating in the election. But with the new development, this has reduced the number to six.
Social Democratic Party’s state Chairman, Prince Oladele Ogunbameru, read the statement saying: “We have invited you this morning to intimate you with the outcome of a series of meetings ten out of the 17 political parties participating in Ondo 2020 Governorship elections in Ondo State. We have resolved to back the PDP candidate Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, for the polls.
“This decision was finally arrived at in the meeting held on Sunday 4th October, 2020 in Akure with the party leaders and top echelon of the PDP in attendance.
“We are committed to good governance in Ondo State, which we believe can only be offered by the PDP at this present austere time. There is no gainsaying that the present political leadership in Ondo State can be best described as nothing but an antenna in the face of things.
“This collaboration is an organized effort to save Ondo State from political quagmire and undesirable socioeconomic predicament of our people.
“The undersigned political party leaders therefore resolve to work as a team in tandem with the PDP’s well captured manifesto for the welfare, well being and life more abundant for the good people of Ondo State.”
The statement was signed by the state chairmen of Accord Party, Dr Ajibola Falayi; AA, Elder Olasunkanmi Obafemi; ADP, Alhaji Sule Odeade; AAC, Comrade Israel Ayeni; APGA, Prince Niran Toyin; APM, Elder Felix F. Oloro; APP, Prince Adesanya OlaOluwa; NNPP, Pastor Peter Olagookun; NRM, Hon Funmilayo Jenyo; and SDP, Prince Oladele O. Ogunbameru.
State chairman of the eleventh party, YPP, Dr Olasupo sent in words of his consent through a representative.
Ogunbameru elaborated: “The structures of these parties have endorsed Jegede. The last council election tested the popularity of parties. APC snatched ballot boxes. They carried the ballot papers of other parties that participated in that election.
“PDP is our senior brother. The October 10 governorship election would be a clear win for the PDP. This election cannot be rigged. This election is already won by the PDP. It is a closed case.
“The ballot boxes cannot be snatched this time around. INEC should be fair.”
In an interview with reporters, PDP state Chairman, Hon Fatai Adams urged the people of the state to vote his party’s candidate on Saturday.
His words: “I can assure you that PDP met with those 11 political parties with their candidates and deputies. In as much as the chairman represents the party, that is why you have the chairmen here.
“Notwithstanding, we have some of the candidates here. For example, the Deputy Governorship candidate of IPP is here, candidate of APGA is here, the Deputy is here. Candidates of NNPP and APN are here.”
On why most of the candidates were not present, Ogunbameru said: “It is the party that sponsors and presents a candidate before INEC. Any candidate must abide by the decision of his or her political party.
“All of us cannot be here. If you see anybody saying otherwise to what we have done here today, that person is not a party person.”
Also in an interview with The Radiance, PDP state spokesman, Mr. Kennedy Ikantu Peretei, said: “The chances of PDP’s candidate, Mr Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, are getting brighter.
“If we were standing at 60 percent expectation, it has climbed up to between 70 and 75. You have seen them. You see the party leadership of these parties, their candidates and chairmen.
“Like one of the chairmen said, the party sponsors candidates for election. So it is the party that backs those people who say they are candidates. They are not independent candidates. They are candidates from the parties.
“So it’s the parties structures that have declared support for Eyitayo Jegede. There were series of meetings at various levels of consultations. What we have seen today is the outcome of these consultations.”
