Ondo deputy governor asks supporters to join him in ZLP

Ondo State deputy governor, Agboola Ajayi, has asked his supporters in the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join him in the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) ahead of October 10 governorship election in the state.

This was a sequel to the resignation of Ajayi from PDP and his planned defection to the ZLP in order to realise his governorship ambition.

Ajayi, who has perfected plans to officially announce his defection to ZLP during the week, has instructed his supporters from PDP and APC who have shown interest to support his aspiration to join him in the party.

Some of the party officials have expressed their interest to either join the ZLP or remain in their political parties and work for the emergence of Ajayi as governor of the state.

Ajayi, in a statement signed by his Media Adviser, Allen Sowore, announced his resignation as a member of PDP but did not reveal his next line of action or new political platform he intends to use to realise his political ambition.

The statement reads: “The deputy governor appreciates the national leadership and members of the party for their warm reception and acceptance in the short period he rejoined the party.

“This decision is as a result of the call on the deputy governor by majority of the good people of Ondo State to give hope to the hopeless, provide credible and purposeful leadership in our dear state.”

The chairman of the PDP in Apoi Ward II in Ese-Odo Local Government Area, Festus Oboro acknowledged the receipt of the resignation letter on August 9.

The deputy governor rejoined the PDP on June 21, 2020, at his home town, Kiribo and contested as the governorship candidate of the party in the party’s primary election held on July 22, 2020.

The deputy governor reassured his supporters to remain focused and committed as he would be announcing his next line of action.”

Already, the ZLP at its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the weekend has given Ajayi the leeway to contest under the platform of the party.

However, the PDP in the state has said the exit of Ajayi from the PDP has no effect on the prospects of the party’s victory in the next governorship elections.

While reacting to the deputy governor’s exit, the State Publicity Secretary, Mr Kennedy Ikantu Peretei, said the party wishes Ajayi good luck in his political journey.

Peretei said, “the PDP in Ondo State has received the exit of Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi from the party from an online publication. As a party, we are have not received his letter of resignation but we wish him well in his political journey.

“Agboola Ajayi joined our party on 22nd June 2020 and participated at the governorship primaries having received a waiver from the national secretariat of the party.

“He has abused the welcome and privilege accorded him by our party supporters during his brief stay in the party.

“He also proved that he is desperate to become the governor of Ondo State. In the days to come, it will dawn on him that he has squandered whatever was remaining in his goodwill with this decision.

“However, his exit from the PDP will not affect our prospects of winning the October gubernatorial elections this year.

“The PDP remains solid, strong and more determined than ever before to win the forthcoming governorship elections with a credible and competent candidate in the person of Eyitayo Jegede.”

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