Ondo: Jegede stages road show, warns APC against rigging; Ilori, others reject Akeredolu’s running mate

If the All Progressives Congress (APC) tries to use federal forces to rig the November 26 governorship election in Ondo State, there will be crisis.
That was the position of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), at a road show in Akure, the state capital, at the weekend.
With him were party chieftains and thousands of supporters.
Jegede vows that Ondo State voters would do everything within the ambit of the law to protect their votes.
To Jegede, the PDP would defeat the APC and other parties with a wide margin during the election.
Some of the other candidates are a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (APC), Chief Olusola Oke (AD) and Dr. Olu Agunloye (SDP).
Jegede said: “Happening today is a confirmation of what we all know that I am the only candidate of the PDP and the fact that PDP’s candidature has generated some form of interest. I won’t call it a dispute. With the interest shown by all to get the PDP ticket, it is a confirmation that PDP is the party to beat.
“Otherwise, nobody will show interest. I wonder why everybody is interested in PDP’s candidate. There was a transparent primary here in Akure, commenced in the morning, concluded a little bit late in the afternoon or evening, and a winner emerged and that was myself.
“INEC officials, both from Akure and from Abuja, were present, security agents were also there and it was opened for all to see and that to me, was a confirmation that what we have done was transparent and lawful.
“Look at the level of support demonstrated by the people both young and old and I am excited by this affirmation and confirmation of friendship by the people who represent voters in Ondo State.
“I believe that this demonstration of support is also a call to duty in its own way. Despite the harsh economic condition, our people are still supportive, they are still excited about the prospect that lies ahead.
“For me as a person, I have already said it that I am not alarmed about what is happening now in terms of the economy. I am encouraged that we will get over this and that we will surmount the problems and once we do that, every other things will fall in place”.
Meanwhile, there is crisis in the APC as some party chieftains have rejected the choice of Akeredolu’s running mate.
To them, with the choice of Hon. Agboola Ajayi as the running mate, the party would lose on November 26.
The leaders, including Hon Bola Ilori, Chief Samuel Ikujuni, and others said for the party to make a headway during the election, Ajayi’s name must be substituted before the deadline allowed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Ilori said: “Even when the NWC just upheld the fraudulent primaries that produced Aketi (Akeredolu), the nexus of fraud in the party is trying to perpetrate another fraud to enforce the initial fraud.
“And while we are still on the fraudulent primaries through fake delegates and delegates’ list padding, that produced Akeredolu as the candidate, another fraud is also being foisted on the party as the Deputy Governor. This is a man whose election was annulled by the courts for certificate forgery.
“Why do this people hate Ondo State APC this much? Why would they cut their nose to spite their face just because of hatred for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu? Why must they be jumping from one fraud to another? From delegates’ list padding to NWC decision padding to now certificate padding, loan padding”
Ikujuni said Ajayi should not be allowed as the running mate because he is from Kiribo in Eseodo Local Government, the same town and Council Area of the mother of Akeredolu.
According to him, it would be another crisis if two brothers are allowed to be the Governorship and Deputy Governorship candidates of the APC.
In his statement titled “Support Ileoluji/Okeigbo/Odigbo for APC Deputy Governorship Position” Ikujuni said justice, fairness and equity demanded that the zone should be given the slot.
In his justification for the slot, the septuagenarian APC leader said Ileoluji/Okeigbo/Odigbo has the highest registered voters in Ondo South with 184,233 followed by Okitipupa/Irele with 156,275 while Ilaje/Ese-odo – 171,490 votes.
In the whole state, ikujuminu said the Federal Constituency ranks third in terms of registered voters. Akure South/North has a total 302,888 voters, Ondo West/East has 188,307 and Ileoluji/Okeigbo/Odigbo 184,233 registered voters.