Ondo 2020: Battle Of The SANs Part II

By Chuks Ekpeneru

Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) who emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag bearer for the October 10 Ondo State governorship election has asked Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to start packing out of the Government House.

“By the grace of God, with the assistance of the people, and the support of party members and all the aspirants, we will take over the government of Ondo State on October 10,” he said.

Jegede and Akeredolu, both Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) are meeting for the second time and on same party platforms. Their first encounter was in 2016 when the PDP candidate was confirmed two days to the poll following internal party wrangling.

Jegede again won the PDP ticket when some had already tipped him to be running mate to embattled Deputy-Governor, Agboola Ajayi who recently defected to the party.

He polled 888 votes while Ajayi garnered 657 votes.

For the PDP candidate, his bid this time may be boosted if he is able to get full support of Ajayi who is a grassroots politician.

For Ajayi, he can either swim or sink with Jegede as that may the only way he can regain relevance. Jegede with Ajayi as running mate may be difficult to defeat as the Deputy-Governor still has supporters in the ruling party.

Also, unlike 2016 where businessman, Jimoh Ibrahim appeared from nowhere to obstruct the PDP machinery, the situation is calmer now as the party looks united.

For Akeredolu, he has already started reaching out to fellow aspirants. However, one of them, Hon Isaac Kekemeke, has lamented saying the incumbent was given undue privilege.

Akeredolu also has the support of his fellow APC governors. He is also expected to be supported by the camp of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu with 2024 in mind.

He is also going to be careful in the choice of running mate after the Ajayi experience.

Some in the state however say the governor has done well to warrant re-election, while even within his party, some say he has not carried party members along.

This was what made the former Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Ifedayo Abegunde to resign from office.

He said the government of Akeredolu is making the entire people of the state to suffer.

“Akeredolu has turned former Governor Mimiko to a saint with his own abysmal performance. We now see that Mimiko did well as governor because he gave his people enough funds to enable them cater for the needs of their own supporters. I had worked with three governor’s, and I can say that in the history of Ondo state, Akeredolu is the worst governor.”

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