A fresh attempt to reach an agreement among the gubernatorial aspirants of the Ondo State Peoples Democratic (PDP) for a consensus candidate might have hit the rock, despite the efforts of the leadership of the party to have a hitch-free primary to pick the party’s flag bearer.
Nigerian Tribune learnt that some of the aspirants have started working out a counter move against the consensus arrangement tabled before them by the PDP leadership in the state.
All the aspirants recently met with the leaders of the party where they were told to meet and deliberate on the mode of primary for picking the party’s candidate.
The aspirants who include, Agboola Ajayi, Sola Ebiseni, Bamidele Akingboye, Adeolu Akinwunmi, Abayomi Sheba, Bosun Arebuwa, and John Ola Mafo, were all invited to an interactive session.
Sources in the party said the aspirants have completely ruled out consensus, following their inability to reach an agreement on a suitable candidate for the November 2024 election.
One of the sources disclosed that the aspirants are currently soliciting for support from delegates, while some have been calling for a level playing field for all the aspirants.
The source, whose zoning will not work, noted that the aspirants are not showing cooperation towards the concensus arrangement.
Another source however, said: “There is no aspirant yet in the party and what we have now are intending contestants. This is because none of them has purchased the form. They are all studying the terrain before paying for the N35m for the form.
“What I know is that only serious aspirants will purchase the form and that is when we can start talking of real men. But as we speak, they are all intending aspirants.”
According to him, there are speculations that member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have approached some leaders in PDP to use the platform to contest the governorship election in the state.
He said this might be unconnected with the alleged romance of Governor Lucky Ayedatiwa and former governor, Olusegun Mimiko, in order prepare ground for Ayedatiwa and to give him soft landing in PDP to pick the party’s ticket ahead of the election
He said “This is not speculation that the APC will have a rancorous primary election and some people have been in talk with some leaders.
“The sitting governor might lose the ticket with the way things are going and some of his foot soldiers are preparing the ground for him.
“Do you notice that PDP has remained silent over the certificate scandal of Ayedatiwa? This is deliberate and PDP has not attacked him in any form because he may help us win back the state, so the attack is not necessary at this particular time.”
Speaking on the zoning arrangements in PDP, a member of the state party executive, said though there was no prior arrangements on it all the aspirants of the party hail from the southern senatorial district of the state.
But speaking on the PDP zoning arrangements, the state Publicity Secretary, Kennedy Peretei, stated in a statement that “It has become necessary to clarify the issues surrounding the alleged zoning of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial ticket to Ondo South Senatorial District.
“Whereas the State Working Committee (SWC), State Executive Committee and State Caucus approved the zoning, the National Working Committee, which is the final authority under the Constitution of the PDP is yet to take any decision on the matter.
“The Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum in his concluding remarks at the Stakeholders meeting said “another meeting will be summoned soon with leaders of Ondo State PDP to further deliberate on issues relating to the affairs of the Party in the State. We urge all members of our Party to remain united and focused on the task ahead.
There is also anxiety in the APC in Ondo state as the party has not announced or fixed a date for its primary.
“But a leader of the party said the APC is at a crossroads over the choice of its candidate for the election, following the calibre of politicians jostling for the party ticket.
The incumbent governor, Ayedatiwa is said to have concluded arrangements to officially declared his aspirations tomorrow (Tuesday) while other aspirants, who include: Chief Olusola Oke, Wale Akinterinwa, Gbenga Edema, Mayowa Akinfolarim, Jimoh Ibrahim have declared their intention to run.
It was gathered that Ayedatiwa has weighed his chances before coming out to declare his aspirations after securing the backing of some members of the APC national leadership .
It was gathered that the governor tarried a while before throwing in his gloves following the silence on the mode and date for the election by the APC.
According to a party chieftain, who said the primary of the party might surprise the whole world, saying “Ayedatiwa might not be picked unless President Bola Tinubu wade into the seemingly crisis within the party, as there were gang up against Ayedatiwa to oust him.
“Ayedatiwa will not be the first governor to lose the party ticket, many Incumbent governors had lost election in the past. Ambode lost in recent time, countless other incumbent governors had lost.
“Uduaghan lost senatorial primary, Gov Lam Adesina of Oyo lost, Gov Rashidi Ladoja as incumbent was defeated in his party primary, similarly Alao Akala was defeated in Oyo state.
“Aiyedatiwa might also lose thile primary because he is not fully in charge and in control of party, the state Exco are not in his control, and he does not have any foot soldier in most of the local government.
“He is a very weak incumbent, but I am not saying he will be defeated but there is high possibility. Another factor against him is his relationship with the South West governors.
“The South West governors will play an important role in his emergence but how many of these governors will speak for the present Ondo governor? They would not like a repeat of what happened in Ondo to happen in their various states.
