By Musa Baba Adamu
A two-time governorship candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, Balogun Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), on Thursday, announced his withdrawal from the forthcoming 2024 governorship election in the state.
Jegede, who was the candidate of the PDP in 2016 and 2020 elections, respectively, noted that he was committed to making all necessary sacrifices to provide solutions to the problems of the party rather than join in compounding it.
Speaking in Akure, the state capital while addressing his teeming supporters across the 18 local government areas of the state, the PDP chieftain said he was more committed to ensuring victory for the PDP at the poll.
“After several intensive and extensive consultations, consolidations, and reconsiderations, it became obvious that we need to reexamine whether to proceed or take a detour that could guarantee an alignment with the preponderance of opinion in terms of the quest for equitable representation, equity, and fair play particularly at the level of governorship,” he stated.
Jegede further said, “Our party constitution is not receptive to zoning and this has been demonstrated through the election of successive Governors, the elections were not based on zoning but on merit.
“The event of today has become expedient in the face of the upcoming potential activities in our state and the party. A decision has to be taken whether we need to repeat the same process that we passed through in 2016 and 2020.
