Ondo 2020: Ajayi, Jegede Plan Alliance Wrestle Power From Akeredolu

…Ajayi To Nominate OSOPADEC Chair, Exco Members In His Senatorial District

Daily Metro News NG

The Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the October 10 elections in Ondo State, Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) Plans on a mutual alliance with his Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) counterpart and Deputy Governor of the state, Hon. Agboola Ajayi, for a last minute working agreement to wrestle power from the Governor of the state Arakurin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), who is seeking reelection for a second term in office.

Recall that Mr. Jegede defeated Ajayi in the keenly contested PDP primaries after the Deputy Governor defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, few days to the close of sales of form of the PDP and subsequently got a waiver from the Nation Excos to contest the primary held at the International Event Center (The Dome) in Akure.

The deputy governor then gun for the deputy governorship slot of the party, but reports has that Jegede resisted pressure from national party leaders to allow Ajayi pair with him.

Following Ajayi’s failure to get the deputy slot of Jegede, he then dumped the PDP for the ZLP to pursue his ambition to govern the state, this action, many observers and analyst, see to have lack the formidable structure required for a rigorous governorship election for a peculiar state like Ondo state.

Report has that many prominent PDP leaders, who were negotiating for Ajayi as running mate to Jegede, are unhappy with Jegede for turning them down.

An anonymous source confirmed that the secret committee set up by the PDP National Leadership to put up details of the alliannce arrangement will turn in its interim report before the end of the week, it was learnt.

The development may not be far from the outcome of the PDP governorship campaign flag-off on Saturday, which was only attended by two serving PDP governors in the country.

A member of the new State Working Committee of PDP in the State confirmed that the party was worried about the absent gesture of the PDP governors towards the party’s flag-off without any reason or notice.

The source said; “Events of the last five days have been a source of worry to all of us in the party. This worry is not only in PDP, but also in ZLP where it is feared that there are serious financial hiccups.

“For now, Ajayi and Jegede have realised that they have to put ego aside and face the common enemy. They are already talking, having realised that they will fail woefully, if they go into the election divided, against Akeredolu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), without forming an alliance.

“The national leadership of our party, in all honesty, initiated the move because of their assessment of the situation on ground in the state. While Ajayi has popular appeal but is hit by financial crisis, Jegede has the financial muscle, but his platform is depleting by the day.

“So, the plan is to harmonise these varied advantages to form a common front against the APC; but it will all become clearer by the end of the week by the time the secret committee turns in its report. Although Jegede may be the one to benefit eventually, Ajayi is expected to hold the fort in Ondo South because he is strong there.”

The source added that; “As at today, I don’t know how PDP will win a local government in Ondo North Senatorial District where Akeredolu hails from. The people from that district are so desirous of completing the eight years.

“The southern district is known to be the home of PDP, but since the defection of Ajayi to ZLP, many PDP leaders like former Speaker Jumoke Akindele, Mike Omogbehin and Oboli Ogunwa are now ZLP members. The only way for Jegede to win this election is to accept whatever demands Ajayi may put on the table.”

The source confirmed that should the deal work out as planned, the Deputy Governor, Hon. Agboola Ajayi may be allowed to pick key the exco members for the six local governments in the Southern Senatorial District, and also be allowed to nominate the Chairman of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC).