Ondo guber: Aspirants want PDP ticket zoned to Southern Senatorial district

• Say that’s the surest way to victory

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

Ahead of the Ondo State governorship election slated for November 16, this year, aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party have made case for the party’s ticket to be zoned to the Southern Senatorial District.of the State.
Answering questions from journalists after the crucial stakeholders’ meeting with the party’s National Working Committee in Abuja, which lasted for over two hours, the aspirants stated that all matters concerning party leadership in the state have been addressed.
According to the PDP’s’ timetable, the party’s congress, where its governorship candidate will emerge, will be held on Thursday, April 25, 2024.
The sale of expression of interest, nomination forms, and Ad-hoc forms is slated for March 7 – March 21.
March 25 is the deadline for the submission of completed expression of interest and Ad-hoc forms.
One of the governorship aspirants, Otunba Bamidele Akingboye said, “I believe the problem in Ondo State has been solved. The issues with party leadership have been resolved, and we are ready to return home.
“I am from the Southern Senatorial District of Ondo State, precisely Okiti Pupa, the town that has consistently delivered PDP victories since ’99, and we will continue to do so in the next election”, he said.
Continuing, Adegboye said, “I fully support the zoning of the ticket to Ondo South senatorial district as the sure path for PDP’s success. I have been contesting for the PDP’s ticket for 25 years, and now that it’s our turn, I am confident I will win.
“I possess the capacity, knowledge, and skills required to defeat the APC. As an entrepreneur for 40 years, I understand that governance is about business and creating employment and wealth, which I’ve successfully done globally.”
Commenting on the performance of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State, Akingboye remarked that one cannot give what they do not possess. He added, “Regarding the APC’s performance in Ondo State, you can only provide what you possess. They have given what they have.”
Another aspirant, Olusola Ebiseni said, “we have had series of meetings in Ondo State and all the issues raised and there appears to be some level of understanding, I will not say agreement yet. Some level of understanding, I can say, particularly with respect to issue of zoning, appears to have been achieved, that the governorship candidate of the PDP would come from the south central district of the state.
“And if you look at all the other political parties, everyone that is contesting is from the South senatorial district. So, there appears to be state consensus, the consensus of the people of Ondo State that the next governor of Ondo should come from the South senatorial district”, he said.
Asked if that was the consensus reached during the Tuesday meeting in Abuja, Ebiseni affirmed, “Yes, I mentioned that it has been accomplished at the Ondo state level, and that was discussed today (Tuesday) without any disagreement whatsoever regarding the zoning matter.
“On the issue of consensus, yes, we still have argument back and forth, but zoning is already achieved.”
In response to these developments, the party’s national spokesman, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, stated, “basically the issues you referenced were discussed because conversation is ongoing when it comes to the issue of consensus.”
According to Ologunagba, “What was paramount in our own dispensation is that the PDP is a democratic party that respects its own Constitution and we agreed we will, in every action that we take going forward in this process, the constitution will be our guide.
“More importantly, we talked about unity in the party because without unity whether you zone or not, consensus or not, you don’t go anywhere.
“So we have major on unity and we recognize the fact that conversation will continue.
“One thing that was firmed, the NWC confirm to every member that there will be free, transparent process leading to whoever becomes the candidate from our primary election.
“This is a continuing conversation, because we know our Constitution. We will abide by the rules and the Constitution. We will be guided by the need for fairness and equity.
“We are going to work as a party to ensure that whatever decision and action we take will be consistent with our Constitution and more importantly, with the interest of the people of Ondo State, who have gone through so much in the last five years under APC”, he explained.