Some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders in Ondo has rejected the running mate chosen by the opposition’s candidate, Eyitayo Jegede, ahead of the governorship election in the state.
After his victory at the PDP primary, Jegede chose Gboluga Ikengboju, a member of the House of Representatives, to the dismay of party chieftains in the state.
The PDP bigwigs in Ondo accused the flagbearer of refusing to accept all the names given to him as suggestions for him to choose, because, according to them, they are not among his caucus.
The leaders believe that the choice of a running mate is crucial and capable of negatively influencing the outcome of the election for the party and could engender an internal crisis, if the right decision is not made.
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One of the PDP stalwarts who kicked against Jegede’s choice was Godday Erewa, an aspirant in the primary, who said that Jegede’s position “is generating palpable tension and disenchantment and if not properly managed, the consequences would be immensely catastrophic.”
Supporting Erewa’s view, a former local government chairman in Okitipupa, Solomon Bitire, said that Jegede has been on a vengeance mission since his emergence as the party’s candidate.
Bitire said:”All the viable names of politicians suggested to him outside his political camps were rejected by Jegede as he insisted he cannot work with anyone of them.
”He rejected to work with Agboola Ajayi, Ondo deputy governor who angrily decamped to the Zenith Labour Party which is now described as the third force in the state.”
