GOVERNORSHIP aspirant under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo state, Mr Seyi Makinde has assured the party’s supporters that the party remains the party to beat in the state for 2019 general election.
Makinde stated this while playing host to journalists in Ibadan on Monday at his Omi Tuntun office, Iwo road, Ibadan.
The governorship aspirant noted that while no party wish to lose its any of members, whatever their status, the party had moved on after the defection of the former governor, Senator Rashidi Ladoja to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
He said ” “I am disappointed that Baba (Senator Ladoja left) despite all plea from the leadership of the party, both at the region and national level. But Oyo PDP has moved on and PDP is the party to beat come 2019 in Oyo state.
” I am not just bragging, though the indices that will determine the election are primarily the people of the state. But among us the political class, we have over 30 local government chairmen of the party in the state and the state executive members that are still in the party are up to 90 per cent.
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“And to give you this as a fact, during the 2015 election, you will discover that apart from votes s of Senator Ladoja, who came second behind the eventual winner, Governor Abiola Ajimobi, myself; who contested the governorship election under the SDP, Senator Folarin who contested under the PDP then and former governor Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, our votes were just 10,000 short of that of Governor Ajimobi.
” And if you check, only Otunba Alao-Akala and Senator Folarin are not in the same fold with us again. But we also have some strong members of Accord and Accord rescue with us now, coupled with those leaders like Senator Hosea Agboola, Honourable Mulikat Adeola, Honourable Muraina who worked with Senator Folarin then. And again, we are having positive overtures from some powerful politicians who can deliver votes for the party in all categories of election for the party.
“So, you cannot say PDP is an empty party because of recent defection. And if I may hint you, we’re making moves to regain some of them in few weeks time. This is politics and it’s about a family, we’re talking to ourselves and we visit ourselves to get result.”
Makinde then added that his priority is to contribute to human development and the society which gave him the opportunity to attain the peak of his profession, and assured that he has done his research with faultless findings that “Oyo state is viable because by God’s grace if we are elected, we will focus on things that will bring nutrition economically to our people.”
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