The Ahmed Makarfi-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party on Wednesday flagged off its governorship campaign for its candidate, Eyitayo Jegede, ahead of the November 26 governorship election in Ondo State.
The flag off followed the completion of court processes asking the Federal High Court in Abuja to stay execution of its earlier judgment declaring businessman Jimoh Ibrahim the candidate of the party.
PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the campaign rally and flag presentation, which held in Akure at the Democracy Park, was delayed until 3 p.m. due to the fact that party officials who went to Abuja to perfect the filing of the documents at the courts did not arrive on time.
The State Publicity Secretary, Banji Okunomo, told PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday that the party on Wednesday filed a stay of execution of the said judgment of the Federal High Court. He said a copy of the filing was made available to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
“Besides filing a stay of execution and making same available to INEC, we also filed an appeal against the judgment at the Appeal Court in Abuja in a bid to set aside the High Court ruling,” Mr. Okunomo said.
“Now that we have notified INEC, it means that all parties must maintain the status quo, meaning that Jegede remains the party’s candidate pending the determination of the matter at the appeal court.”
He expressed the confidence that the judgment of the Federal High Court in favour of Mr. Ibrahim would be struck out by the Appeal Court.
Mr. Jegede was officially presented with the flag by the party’s publicity secretary, Dayo Adeyeye, at a rally in Akure on Wednesday.
Two primaries were conducted by the two factions of the party. The one led by Ali Modu Sheriff produced Mr. Ibrahim while the Ahmed Makarfi group had Mr. Jegede as its candidate.
The INEC said it is yet to take a decision on the ruling by the federal high court, but would seek legal advice before reaching a decision.
Mr. Adeyeye, while making the flag presentation, said Mr. Jegede’s name had been submitted to INEC as the PDP candidate for the November 26 election.
“Eyitayo Jegede is the authentic candidate of PDP in the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo state,” he said.
“Anybody parading himself as the candidate of the party is fake and empty. Jegede’s primary election was done in Akure, supervised by the INEC, security agencies and conducted under the chairmanship of the Governor of Bayelsa state, Seriake Dickson.
“The people of Ondo State must come out en-mass and work very hard to vote for the candidate of our party come November 26 governorship election in the state.”
The Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, who led other PDP leaders in the state to the Democracy Park, venue of the rally, said he had seen in Eyitayo Jegede, a good successor.
Mr. Mimiko who was in company of the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, noted that his government had proved to the people of the state that it could solve their problems.
The governor described Mr. Jegede as a close confidant, who would continue the good work of his administration after the expiration of his tenure.
“Eight years ago, I had the privilege to be elected as the governor of the state. I stand before you today to declare to you that we have worked for you,” Mr. Mimiko declared.
“We have proved that we can make our city beautiful without injuring our people.”
Mr. Fayose, in his remarks said PDP was not contesting against the All Progressives Congress but INEC in the forthcoming election.
“I have an answer to that, because Nigeria belongs to us. Ondo State belongs to you. What they did in Edo State will not happen here in Ondo. Somebody should tell them what happened in 1983 was not good,” he said.
“The country is going back rather than moving forward. Everybody is a thief except you are in APC. Nigeria cannot wait to vote again in the general election. We want to correct that mistake.”
Mr. Jegede, in his address, promised the people a continuation of good governance, and urged them to vote for him come November 26.
He said if they vote for the PDP the good work of the present administration would continue.
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