PDP leaders converge in Ibadan and promise to take back Ondo

Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party in the South-West region have declared that the party would recapture Ondo State ahead of the upcoming November 2024 gubernatorial election.

This was when the leaders met in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Monday.

The PUNCH reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission had set November 2024 for the state gubernatorial elections.

The meeting was attended by the host governor, Seyi Makinde; former Governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola; former Governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko; a former PDP gubernatorial candidate in Ondo State, Eyitayo Jegede; and former PDP National Vice President, Olabode George; among others.

Makinde, who addressed journalists shortly after the meeting, declared that the PDP would recapture Ondo State from the ruling All Progressives Congress in the upcoming elections.

He explained that the PDP had started speaking with one voice and that the party’s gubernatorial candidate, Agboola Ajayi, and other parties would come together to ensure that the party had a strong presence at the polls.

The governor said: “All PDP leaders and stakeholders from the six south-west states are behind the Ondo PDP candidate.

“Our candidate, His Excellency Agboola Ajayi, is here and the first step for us is to reconcile all the trends in Ondo State. This is because once we have a unified PDP in Ondo State, we will have a path to Alagbaka Government House.

“To God be the glory, we have spoken as one family. Our candidate has also been able to participate in that process.”

Makinde added: “So for us, people should expect a very strong performance by the PDP in Ondo State in November, by the grace of God. For our leaders across the South West to endorse our candidates in the state, I believe, is a strong signal to the current occupant of the Ondo Government House. The PPD is coming and it will happen.”

Also speaking, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke said the South West PDP met to deliberate on party matters regarding the upcoming elections in Ondo State.

“As you can see, everyone is happy because it is a family affair. We came to Oyo State to meet with our brother, His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde, to deliberate on PDP issues in relation to Ondo State.

“Of course, we congratulate our brother Agboola, who won the primaries, which went very well. Now everyone knows that the PDP is a democratic party because we followed due process.

“We also want to start the reconciliation process, because we know that some people are upset and we believe that our leaders will return home to unite everyone. Even Governor Makinde and I would be invited to Akure to see how we can move forward in the state before the November elections,” Adeleke said.

In his remarks, PDP gubernatorial candidate, Ajayi, thanked Governors Makinde and Adeleke as well as PDP leaders for their support ahead of the elections.