A leading contestant for the October 10, 2020 governorship election in Ondo State, Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), on Tuesday stormed the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja, to obtain his nomination form ahead of the July 22 primary election of the party.
Jegede, a former attorney-general and commissioner for justice in the state, was accompanied to the Wadata House of the party by his supporters which included a House of Representatives member representing Akure South/Akure North Federal Constituency, Hon. Adedayo Omolafe and Member, House of Representatives representing Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency, Hon. Ikengboju Gboluga.
Others include a former Deputy Governor and former Ambassador and member, Board of Trustee of the party, Otunba Omolade Oluwateru and Hon. Benson Amuwa, former NDDC Commissioner in the state.
Also in his entourage were Hon. Bobby Omotosho, former member, House of Representatives from Owo/ Ose Federal Constituency, Hon. Debo Ologunagba , former member, House of Representatives from Akoko, other political heavyweights across the 18 local government areas of the state, former Commissioners, and Board members,among others.
Addressing Jegede and his entourage, the National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, assured them of credible and transparent primary election come July 22.
Secondus , who was represented by the Deputy National Chairman, South, Hon. Yemi Akinwonmi,said “It is our responsibility to conduct integrity base primaries. It is not our duty here to preach any zoning . We want to assure you that we will not do anything that is not normal.”
He added “the party is known for conducting free, fair and credible primary elections and that of Ondo state will also be free and fair because we have history of doing it right. We know you. You have done before and we are assuring that every process will be transparent. But observation is that since the Ondo people have been coming here for the form, I noticed they are all young men.The era of “old school” is gradually fading away.”
Responding, the PDP aspirant, Jegede (SAN), said his coming to Wadata House for the collection of the form signifies the end to the APC government in the state.
Jegede said, “the forthcoming governorship election is the project of all the residents of the state, not an individual project. By the special grace of God, come October 10, 2020, PDP will be declared winner of the election .
“Also, come February 2021, we will be sworn in as the elected governor of the state on the platform of the PDP by God’s grace. PDP is back and we are back for good. I am happy that you have assured that the party is known for transparency. We are ready to go into this and God willing, we are going to win the primary and go ahead to win the governorship election.”
Jegede who is a successful senior lawyer with over 35 years experience in practice, was the candidate of the party in the 2016 governorship election in the state.
But he was not sure of flying the party’s flag until 48 hours to the election when the Appeal and Supreme courts dispensed with the suit brought before them by Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim and Senator Alimodu Sheriff.
Jegede came second in the poll despite his inability to campaign for vote in the said election, to the present governor of the state, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
He was the Attorney General and Justice Commissioner in Ondo State for seven and half years, the longest serving official in that capacity in the history of the state, a position he got purely based on merit rather than politics.