The immediate former Commissioner for Justice and the State Attorney General, Eyitayo Jegede, who emerged on Monday as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) standard-bearer for the forthcoming election in Ondo State, has promised to build on the legacies of the incumbent governor of the state, Dr Olusegun Mimiko.
In his acceptance speech, Jegede thanked the delegates and party members for their confidence in him and promised to focus mostly on developing the state economy as a way out of the present economic situation.
In his words, “there is no victor, and there is no vanquish. We are all winners because this is purely a family matter within the PDP, and we will continue to build bridges of friendship between our people.
“We will continue to open our doors for those genuinely interested in reconciliation. The PDP is a big party and for others who are on the other side it is between light and darkness. PDP is the light and we have seen it in the last one year.”
He, however, offered himself to serve and promised to consolidate on the previous and present administration, saying, “My administration will focus on economy, economy and economy, and that is the only way out we can continue to develop our infrastructures, unemployment and to overcome our challenges.
“This indeed is challenges to all of us. The economy is dwindling every day. The diesel price has increased from N135 per litre to N200 per litre. So is the price of bread, so is the price of rice. It is now time to talk about economy, economy and economy by that, our people will be happy and build prosperity for our state.”
Mimiko, while congratulating the party and the standard-bearer, said yesterday’s success is a road to victory in the November 26 governorship election, saying that “we will not only beat APC in the election but we will beat them big in Ondo State.”
Responding after his defeat, the former Senior Special Adviser to Governor Olusegun Mimiko on Political matters, Hon Saka Lawal, assured the party leadership and members of his readiness to work hand in hand with Jegede and stressed the need to bring back some of the leaders who defected to other parties into the party’s fold.
He said, “I am assuring you that Saka Lawal will remain in the PDP. I will join hands with other leaders for genuine and true reconciliation to bring some of our leaders on the other side on board because we still have a lot to do to win this election. What is paramount before us is for the party to win the November 26 governorship election.
“I will be consulting with all my political friends and within the next one week we will come up with a statement on the way forward for PDP in Ondo State, I thank you all and God bless you.”
Accreditation of the 840 voters drawn from the 203 wards across the state, while the primaries commenced around 8.00am.
The Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson, supervised the voting and counting of votes, announced the result, and declared Jegede the winner.
Dickson commended the delegates, saying there was no winner or loser in the contest. However, the election result showed unity within the party in the state, which remains the strength of the PDP.
The chairman of the electoral committee, who handed copies of the result to the representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), urged the party leadership in the state and the other aspirants to ensure unity in the party and work together to win the governorship election in November.
The primary was held at the International Event Centre (DOME) in Akure. Jegede polled 760 votes to defeat Saka, who polled 22 votes.
