Ondo poll: PDP Dismisses Supporting Agboola Ajayi

The Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party Caretaker Committee in the South-West, Mr Dayo Ogungbenro, has reacted to the insinuations that some governors elected on the platform of the party are throwing their weight behind the candidate of the Zenith Labour Party, Mr Agboola Ajayi, in the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State.

Ogungbenro, in a statement on Sunday, challenged the authors of what he called misleading reports to provide evidence that any PDP governor was backing Ajayi.

He said, “PDP will never work with a renegade and political turncoat whose ambition is not grounded in reality. It is a mark of hypocrisy for those who could not abide by the result of a free and fair governorship primary to be planting fake news in the media suggesting that they are being sponsored by PDP governors in other states.

He noted that  for the avoidance of doubt, PDP governors, members in Ondo State and the good people of Ondo State are all solidly behind Eyitayo Jegede the governorship candidate of the party and is doing everything within their power and within the laws of the land to ensure that he emerges the governor of Ondo State.

Recall that Mr Agboola Ajayi the current  Ondo State Deputy Governor formally joined the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) last week  with a threat to remove his boss, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu from office. He had in June this year joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and contested the party’s governorship primary election, but lost to Mr. Eyitayo Jegede.

Not satisfied with the outcome of the PDP’s primary, Ajayi pitched tent with the ZLP after he had secured the assurance of the former governor of the state, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko and was given the governorship ticket of the party.

Whole Speaking at the party’s secretariat and being welcomed by the party leadership and hundreds of party faithful from the 18 local government areas of the state, he formally announced his defection to the party. Ajayi said he joined the ZLP to change the view of people about politics and politicians. He said the ZLP has what it takes to take over power from the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), just as he threatened to wrestle power from Akeredolu through legitimate means, declaring that there would be no room for the All Progressives Congress to rig the forthcoming election.

He said, “I can assure you that nothing will happen on the Election Day; we all own this state. We have joined this party to change the narrative. We are going to make a change in Ondo State.

“They will want to rig the election, but what they are planning is not going to work. It is obvious that the affirmation of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu as the candidate of the APC, coupled with the seeming failure of the PDP to produce a dependable and formidable alternative, has dampened the democratic enthusiasm and morale of the people”

He said he was propelled by the call to serve, saying he joined the ZLP to put practical effect to the expectations of the people who obviously are not enamoured by the options offered by the two major parties in the state.

“To stir hope and re-channel the energy of the progressive electorate, I am teaming up with members of the ZLP, a chunk of most of the other members and my teeming allies from both the PDP and APC,” he added.

Ajayi noted that  the ZLP is a dependable platform to rescue Ondo State from a lacklustre, nepotistic and clannish leadership.