Ondo State stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have told the national leadership of the party to sanction the move to zone the 2024 governorship ticket to the southern senatorial district of the state.
They made the proposal during the closed door session with the Ambassador Iliya Damagun-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the main opposition in Abuja on Tuesday, attended by 78 invited critical party members from the state.
The stakeholders including eight governorship aspirants argued that doing so is the only way for the party to reclaim the state which it lost to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2016.
One of the aspirants, Olusola Ebiseni, who is also the national secretary of Afenifere, confirmed that the matter was discussed at the meeting and there was a unanimous agreement on it.
He said: “The primary is held in April while the election will be held in November. Yes, we have had a series of meetings in Ondo 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 of governorship candidate of the PDP would come from the south central district of the state.
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“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 a state consensus, the consensus of the people of Ondo State that the next governor of Ondo should come from the South senatorial district.”
“Yes, I said that has been achieved at the level of Ondo state and that was put on the table today without any dissenting at all on the issue of zoning.
“On the issue of consensus, yes we still have argument back and forth, but zoning is already achieved,” he added.
Ebiseni was confident that he would would get the ticket and win the election for the PDP.
He explained: “This is like the third time I’ll be contesting for the governorship of Ondo State having served the state in several capacities.
“I’ve been chairman local government by election, three times commissioner to different governments in the state. I was a delegate of the federal government to the 2014 National Conference. And so many of the political profile that the name has become a household name in Ondo State.
“The party will actually be getting it right to ensure that I emerge as a candidate of the party.”
Another aspirant, Bamidele Akingboye, said that zoning the PDP gubernatorial ticket to Ondo south would ensure victory at the November election.
He stated: “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 Okitipupa, the town that has consistently delivered PDP victories since 1999, and we will continue to do so in the next election.
“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.”
While noting that the ruling APC’s performance in the state has been poor because “what you don’t have you can’t give,” he stressed: “I am committed to giving the people of Ondo the best, ushering in a new era for the state within the new Nigeria.”
