Ondo 2020 Election: Ondo Deputy Governor Set To Dump APC For PDP
Ahead of the October 10, 2020 governorship election in Ondo State, there are feelers that the embattled deputy governor of the state, Agboola Ajayi, may, any moment from now, dump the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The relationship between Ajayi and his principal, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, has not been cordial and there are clear signals that the two may not pair together if Akeredolu eventually clinches the party’s ticket.
A credible source said Ajayi “is 70 percent out of APC at the moment”.
He also added that if the PDP leadership was able to convince other aspirants to step down for him, Ajayi might emerge as its candidate in the governorship election.
According to him, the deal was facilitated by two PDP governors from the North- West and South-South as well as some PDP leaders in the Ondo State chapter.
“I understood that the party’s National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, was not there because he was in Rivers State due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“However, that is not true. What he is telling the PDP members is that he has more persons in the APC, especially in the House of Assembly and the cabinet, and that they are ready to move with him once he decamps. That is what he is using to negotiate for the PDP ticket.
“From the information, we are getting, the PDP NWC is likely to call all other aspirants to step down for him since he has that kind of support.
“Three weeks ago, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ifedayo Abegunde, confirmed to the governor, in the presence of the Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi, that the deputy governor confided in him that he would join the PDP if Akeredolu was given the ticket by the APC. He said so in the presence of the deputy governor.
“As it stands, the deputy governor is almost out of the APC. What he is trying to do now is that he wants to stay in the government and rock the boat. Even if he joins the PDP, he will not resign so that he can be fighting from within.”
On why Ajayi appeared at the weekly COVID-19 meeting with Akeredolu, the source said: “That is one of the strategies the deputy governor is employing. He is trying to be closer to the governor while working underground to join the PDP.”
When contacted, an aide of the deputy governor confirmed that his principal was in Abuja last week. He, however, said he couldn’t say if he met with PDP leaders while he was there.
He added that several party leaders had intervened in the crisis between the deputy governor and his principal, but that some people in Akeredolu’s cabinet always worked to scuttle the peace moves.
“A lot of people have intervened in the crisis. People like Governor Kayode Fayemi and Senator Tayo Alasoadura, all to no avail.
“The truth is that some people in Akeredolu’s cabinet are also eyeing the deputy governorship slot, so they are doing everything to tarnish the deputy governor’s image and frustrate the peace moves.”
Also speaking, another associate of the deputy governor, said: “From what I know, it is either the deputy governor runs with Akeredolu for second term or contests against him.
“With the kind of popularity he enjoys in Ondo politics, he can’t just fizzle out like that.”
Reacting to the issue, the PDP in Ondo State said it would gladly receive Ajayi Agboola into its fold.
It, however, said there was no automatic ticket for the deputy governor.
In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Zadok Akintoye, the party assured all PDP governorship aspirants that the party does not have a preferred candidate and would ensure a level playing field for all aspirants or intending aspirants.
The statement said no aspirant would be shut out of the process for picking a candidate, saying the party had concluded plans to guaranty free, fair, transparent and all-inclusive primaries as was its established custom.
According to the statement: “Please, note that the PDP remains absolutely committed to the principles and ethos of democracy, and all intending members are expected to fully register at their ward and also participate in all party activities.
“The party acknowledges the right of His Excellency, Mr. Agboola Ajayi, and of all members of the public wishing to join our fold, and would accord all intending members and aspirants a warm reception as we work together to liberate our dear state from the maladministration of the APC government.”
In a related development, members of the Ondo State House of Assembly, on Sunday night, held a closed-door meeting with Governor Akeredolu.
The lawmakers were led to the Presidential Lodge of the Government House by the Speaker, David Oloyelogun.
Sources said three of the eight lawmakers who were sympathetic to the deputy governor were in attendance.
Those in attendance, aside from the governor and the lawmakers, were the state chairman of the APC, Ade Adetimehin; political adviser to the governor, Victor Adekanye Olabintan, as well as the chief of staff to the governor, Olugbenga Ale.
The deputy governor, who arrived Akure from Abuja, was not part of the meeting.
He was said to be in Okitipupa, his home, while the meeting was going on.