Ondo 2020: PDP Candidate, Jegede, Rejects Ondo Dep. Gov. As Running Mate
The move by the embattled Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi, to become the running mate of the winner of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ondo State governorship election primary, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, might have hit the brick wall, Daily Independent gathered on Thursday.
Ajayi, who was once the highly dependable ally of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, had last month dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the PDP where he participated in the July 22, 2020 primary election of the party, thirty days after defection.
The deputy governor was the first runner up in the just concluded PDP primary poll, scoring 657 votes, while Jegede, the party’s candidate polled 888 votes.
An insider in the camp of the PDP governorship candidate revealed to our correspondent that although Ajayi had yet to personally open discussions with Jegede, some proxy talks were activated hours after the result of the party was declared.
The source said that the popularity of Jegede if combined with that of Ajayi will give the PDP an upper hand over Akeredolu in the October 10 governorship election.
However, Jegede was said to have rejected this out rightly on the ground that he won’t like to have a deputy governor that will not give him rest of mind.
“Some PDP national leaders including a governor from the North West had been talking to Eyitayo Jegede on the need to pick Agboola Ajayi has his running mate.
“They emphasised on the point that the national leadership of the party does not want a situation whereby Ajayi, who defected as a sitting deputy governor feels neglected after the primary.
“They also stressed that apart from the fact that Ajayi is a grassroots mobilisers, Jegede needs a running mate that can match whoever is picked by the APC as Akeredolu’s running mate from the Southern senatorial district.
“But my Oga told them that it would be difficult for him to accept their offer because he does not want someone who would be working behind to oust him from office if he eventually becomes a governor.
“Jegede also told them that he is ready to concede the PDP Southern senatorial ticket to Agboola in 2023 general election if he is ready to work for the victory of PDP in the October 10, 2020 governorship election in the state”, the source said.
According to him, a five-man reconciliation committee is to be set up by the PDP NWC with a view to holding discussions with the duo of Jegede and Ajayi in the next one week to harmonise interests before the issue of running mate will be laid to rest.
When contacted, an aide of Ajayi, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said even though some people are mooting the idea of Jegede- Ajayi ticket, his principal has not considered the option yet. He said like Akeredolu did after the APC primary, what should be paramount to Jegede is reconciliation with PDP aspirants and not that of running mate.
“The truth is that some people are suggesting it. It is not one of the cards on the table.
“The first thing I think should be on the mind of the winner is reconciliation and not running mate”.
