The Peoples Democratic Party(PDP)’s governorship candidate in Ondo State, Mr Eyitayo Jegede, SAN says he is still fighting on in the race, contrary to lingering reports that he has stepped down for one of his rivals, the Zenith Labour Party(ZLP), candidate, Mr Agoola Ajayi.
Jegede who made the clarification in a press statement issued by his campaign organisation’s spokesperson, Mr. Gbenga Akinmoyo, on Thursday in Akure, the Ondo State capital maintained that it is absurd to say he has stepped down for another candidate.
Recall that the governorship election in Ondo State is scheduled for Oct. 10, and there are three contending front-runners in the race. They are incumbent governor of Ondo State, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, popularly known as Aketi, Mr Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, a candidate of the PDP and incumbent deputy governor who is currently estranged from his boss, Mr Agoola Ajayi, candidate of the ZLP.
Read also: Ondo 2020: Choice of Deputy, Ajayi’s Defection Threaten PDP’s Chances
The PDP governorship candidate appealed to his supporters to disregard the purported information making the rounds that he had folded-up his political structures into that of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP)’s candidate, Mr Ajayi in a bid to defeat Akeredolu.
Jegede who described the piece of information as part of desperate moves and plots by his detractors “to deceive the general public and distract his supporters.”
The PDP candidate insisted that having faithfully campaigned across the state, he was confident of victory on Saturday.
He said: “Thousands of supporters joined me at the ceremony to receive the PDP national officers from Abuja, led by the National Chairman, Uche Secondus.
“Several PDP governors and former governors, led by the Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal and other party chieftains were also present at the rally.”
Jegede further averred that despite the raging propaganda by political opponents, he is confident of emerging victorious, stressing that it was that morale and confidence that informed his decision to attend the governorship debates to answer questions and address the electorate on his party’s manifestoes.
Read also: Ondo 2020: Akeredolu, Ajayi’s Bitterness Deepens Over N750m Security Vote
The PDP candidate also stated that he was irrevocably committed to the signed peace accord which further illustrates his to commitment to a violence-free and transparent election on Saturday.
It would be recalled that the INEC had earlier released the names of 17 governorship candidates and their running mates alongside their political parties.
The parties named in the governorship election include the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), among others.
