The hurdles on the path to contesting in the primary election and winning the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the governorship election in Ondo State by Agboola Ajayi, the embattled Deputy Governor of the State seem to be unending.
After surviving the Yakubu Dogara-led screening alongside seven other aspirants, Mr Ajayi has been accused of conniving with the acting Chairman of the PDP in the State, Clement Faboyede, to change the list of delegates.
According to reports, over the weekend, some members of the PDP protested at the Heritage Hotel in Akure against alleged plans to change the list of delegates to favour the Deputy Governor who recently defected to the party.
The protesters, according to the Nation, said there were plans to replace names of the elected wards and local governments’ delegates across the State. Over 2,500 delegates are expected at the primary election scheduled to hold on July 22.
Seven aspirants, the Ondo Elders Council and the State Caretaker Committee have reportedly warned against the use of the delegates’ list submitted Kingsley Chinda, who was the Secretary of the PDP Ward Congresses Electoral Committee, according to the Nation.
The Deputy Governor, through his spokesperson, Allen Sowore, denied the allegations. He alleged that Mr Ajayi was blackmailed by forces in the All Progressive Congress.
“It must be noted that it is the national leadership of PDP sent a committee to see to the conduct of delegates election and they are the custodian of the list and not the Deputy Governor,” Sowore said.
“Some PDP aspirants, who are being sponsored by the Ondo State Government to obtain forms just to undermine the capacity of the opposition party in its bid to take over the reins of government from the wobbling and floundering Akeredolu, have realized that it’s not going to be business as usual.
“The ultimate aim of these job seekers is to de-market the amiable Deputy Governor as the Ondo State gubernatorial election gets near. These hirelings and their sponsors do have the sympathy of Agboola Ajayi. However, it’s not too late for them to face the reality that no one can cause a man whom God has blessed,” the deputy governor’s spokesperson said.
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