Ondo 2016: PDP aspirants, group kick against alleged imposition of candidate

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9 years ago

Ahead of the governorship election in Ondo State, governorship aspirants and some leaders in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the northern senatorial district of the state, on Monday, said the zone would not accept an alleged plan by the state governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, to impose a candidate from the Central senatorial district.

This was contained in a communiqué issued by the aspirants and stakeholders after their meeting, expressing their displeasure over the endorsement of an aspirant by Mimiko.

The aspirants, however, called on the state governor and proponents of the central senatorial district agenda to drop the idea and align with the rotational/zoning principle of the party, saying the preferred candidate is from the same district with the incumbent governor.

In the communiqué signed by the aspirants, which included Senator Remi Okunrinboye, Rt Hon Dr Bakkita Bello, Bamiduro Dada, Prince Nekan Olateru-Olagbegi, Dare Emiola, Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye, Dayo Fadahunsi, Yekini Olanipekun, among others said there was a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) reached by the state leadership of the party towards the October 20, 2012 which produced Mimiko as the state governor for the second term

They stated that the agreement reached then was to rotate the governorship slot among the three zones in the state, saying that it was the turn of the north to produce the party’s candidate.

The MOU was signed by late Governor Olusegun Agagu, late Dr Olaiya Oni, Saka Lawal, Otunba Fashawe now in All Progressives Congress (APC), Victor Olabimtan now in APC, Olusola Oke now in APC, Dr Gbankinro, among others.

Meanwhile, a group within the party, the North/South Senatorial Youths Campaigners (NSDYC) has vowed to frustrate the adoption of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, as the party’s governorship candidate.

The group stated this in a statement signed by its coordinator, Dele Ayeni, alleging the leadership of the party in the state of not wanting to conduct primaries to pick the party’s candidate.

The NSDYC specifically alleged the state governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, of planning to destroy the party to pave way for opposition to win the next governorship election in the state, saying the governor was planning to present a weakling to the electorate so that the party would be easily defeated in the forthcoming election.

They also alleged that Mimiko decided to throw his weight behind Jegede because of the strong connection that exists between Jegede and the former Vice President of the country, Atiku Abubakar, who has promised to sponsor Jegede’s election.