Ondo 2020: Deputy Governor meets Mimiko, Eyes ZLP Ticket

… I am still consulting – Agboola

There are Strong indications on Friday night that the embattled Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi may be on his way to the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

Our reporter authoritatively gathered that Ajayi, on Friday night, met former Governor Olusegun Mimiko at his residence in Ondo town to discuss the possibility of flying the party’s ticket.

Curiously, the meeting of the duo came a few hours after the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) political son of Mimiko, Eyitayo Jegede visited Ajayi at his Okitipupa residence as part of his reconciliation moves after the primary.

Ajayi, maternally from Ondo town, was said to have received an appreciable support from Mimiko during the primary, but lost to Jegede at the PDP primary.

Sources in ZLP revealed that Ajayi is begging Mimiko, who is the national leader of the party for the ZLP governorship ticket.

Already, ZLP had elected Hon Rotimi Benjamin as its candidate for the October 10, 2020 governorship election in the State.

It was gathered that although Mimiko is yet to give a definite answer to Ajayi’s request, it was still unclear what the implication of such overtures would be for Benjamin.

But if the request sails through, Ajayi told Mimiko that his running mate would come from Owo, the hometown of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN.

Mimiko is reportedly expected to meet his associates and followers on Sunday to deliberate on the matter.

It will be recalled that Ajayi, who dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) for PDP, came second in the party primary election that produced Mr. Eyitayo Jegede as the PDP governorship candidate.

After the PDP primary election, the deputy governor, through a statement signed by his Campaign Director General, Dr. Kola Ademujimi had said:

“PDP remains our party and we therefore want all our supporters to remain loyal to the Party as we work towards the way forward”

It was gathered that Ajayi had wanted to contest under the platform of Social Democratic Party (SDP) but might have abandoned that idea following the outburst of the SDP state leader, who is also the lawmaker representing Idanre/Ifedore federal constituency, Hon. Tajudeen Adefisoye a.k.a Small Alhaji on his Facebook page that the party won’t become a dumping ground for desperate politicians.

The ZLP source said: “we were shocked to see Ajayi at Mimiko’s house yesterday night (last Friday). He told our leader that he would like to contest the October 10, election under ZLP and assured him that he has enough resources to win the poll.

“According to the deputy governor, one of his strategies is to pick his running mate from Owo local government, the hometown of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN in order to divide the votes from the town.

“But kindly note that Mimiko has not given him his word. He told him that he would meet his supporters soon and get back to him. I doubt if Ajayi will have his way in ZLP.

“Some of us knew how he supported Agbo may be because his mother is from Ondo town and you know if course blood is thicker  than water. If the man failed at the primary to Jegede, another failure would rubbish the integrity of our leader, Iroko”, he said.

In a reaction , the Media Adviser to the Deputy governor, Allen Sowore told ROVING REPORTERS that Agboola is only consulting with his supporters and will come out with his next line of actions.

Sowore said “ The deputy governor is only consulting with his supporters and in another one week, he will come out with the next line of action . All I can tell you now is that he still consulting. ”

You know the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Eyotayo Jegede SAN, visited him yesterday- 24th July, 2020.

He has been meeting with the critical stakeholders in a view to determine the next line of action. ”

About Author