Ondo 2020: Jegede Under Intense Pressure To Pick Ajayi As Running Mate

By Deji Adebayo, Akure

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the October 10 governorship election in Ondo State, Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, is under intense pressure to pick incumbent Deputy Governor Hon. Agboola Ajayi, as his running mate.

It was gathered that some PDP Governors are leading the pressure on Jegede over fears of Ajayi’s possible cross carpet to the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

Sources within the party said the Governors pushing for Ajayi claimed they want the party to go into the election a united indivisible family.

Besides the Governors, some members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP were said to have keyed into the project and might end up imposing Ajayi as running mate if the plea option failed with Jegede.

Last week, Jegede subtly rejected the choice of Ajayi when some party chieftains mooted the idea to him, this might be due to the present play of the deputy governor. He was said to have insisted on picking someone he could trust.

A PDP chieftain in Ondo, who spoke in anonymous to some journalists, said the PDP need to be united and strong to defeat incumbent Governor Akeredolu.

The PDP chieftain said there was no basis for the rejection of Ajayi by Jegede.

“Jegede must understand that Ajayi, despite he defeated him during the primary, is still a big favour and big fish in the politics of Ondo State.

“We must commend some of our party leaders, particularly some PDP governors and NWC members for their frantic efforts to stop Ajayi from dumping the PDP before the October election.

“They love the party, unlike those who are pushing Ajayi to go to another party to contest.”