By Gbenga Abulude (Politics & General Desk)
A chieftain of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Mr Zacheaus Akinlose, has revealed why the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu won the Ondo Governorship election.
Akinlose pointed accusing fingers at Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship candidate, Mr Eyitayo Jegede and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) Hon Agboola Ajayi for not agreeing to come to terms on their purported alliance when it was clear, both candidates could not singlehandedly defeat the incumbent Governor Akeredolu at the polls held on Saturday.
Recall that Akeredolu at the recently concluded Ondo governorship election recorded a massive victory over his opponents to garner 292,830 votes while Jegede garnered 195,791 votes.
Ajayi, the deputy governor who decamped from APC polled only 69,127 votes.
Akeredolu, interestingly won in 15 local government areas out of the 18 local councils.
The ZLP party chieftain, Akinlose said the claim that Ajayi overrated himself judging by the low votes recorded at the Ondo election was wrong because the deputy Governor was popular and could have defeated Akeredolu, his estranged boss at the polls.
Akinlose who disclosed what transpired in the days leading to the election day, said, the PDP candidate, Jegede dilly-dallied and was unwilling to enter into a merger with Ajayi few days to the election.
The chieftain recalled that Jegede in 2016 rode on the back of immediate past Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko to contest for the Governorship election.
The former governor is the national leader for the ZLP and campaigned against Akeredolu and his former party, the PDP.
As a result of this development, Akinlose said many ZLP supporters of Ajayi, who had decamped from APC to the PDP, and also followed the deputy Governor to the ZLP when he moved, realised that their leader, Ajayi’s chances was slim.
According to the party leader, Ajayi’s supporters decided to return to the APC knowing that the party had better chances of winning the election in their estimation and this made them to vote for Akeredolu.
He said, “Sincerely speaking, I put the blame on Jegede and Ajayi. I can categorically say that they handed over the victory to Akeredolu on a platter of gold.
“Look at a Jegede that rode on Mimiko’s popularity in 2016, he thinks he has now arrived and can defeat an incumbent governor on his own. Also look at Ajayi, you jumped from APC to PDP and then ZLP and in one month you want to win governorship election. Let’s be realistic, can ZLP defeat APC in an election?
“Ajayi got 69,000 votes in the election but I believe he would have gotten more votes if he had entered into an alliance with Jegede. Few days to the election, many of his supporters who left APC with him to ZLP returned to the party and voted for Akeredolu. They said they will rather vote for the governor who stands a high chance of winning rather than waste their votes on ZLP”.
Meanwhile, Jegede, while speaking through his campaign organisation after his defeat in Ondo election said, he hoped on God going forward on the next step to take.
Mr Gbenga Akinmoyo, the spokesman of the Jegede Campaign Organisation said,
“This project is a project that God has ordained. As it is so, we wait. So we wait on God.”
Akinmoyo thanked the people of the state for voting for their conscience during the polls. He also appreciated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members for working hard for the party.
The ZLP candidate, Ajayi noted that he would decide on his next plan soon.
