Just less than a week after losing in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), primary election for the governorship seat in Ondo State, the Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, might be on his way to joining the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) for the party’s ticket.
This follows the deputy governor’s meeting with the immediate past governor of the state, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, who is also a kinsman, at his residence in Ondo City, on Friday.
The DAILY VENDOR learnt that the meeting occurred shortly after the winner of the PDP primary election, Eyitayo Jegede, visited Ajayi, as part of his reconciliation moves.
It would be recalled that Ajayi dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), just 30 days to the gubernatorial primary of the PDP but came second with 657 votes.
However, Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), had voted Rotimi Benjamin, as the party’s candidate for the October 10, governorship election.
Sources in the know in Ondo, said Mimiko did not give Ajayi a definite answer while expressing uncertainty over the effect of such political overtures to Benjamin.
Meanwhile, the Director-General of Agboola Alfred Ajayi Campaign Organisation (3ACO), Dr. Kola Ademujimi, noted: “PDP remains our party. We want all our supporters to remain loyal to the party, as we work towards the way forward.”
On the other hand, the Deputy Governor’s Media Adviser, Mr. Allen Sowore, said: “Ajayi is a bonafide member of the PDP.”
Sowore disclosed that his boss, Ajayi, was at the campaign flag-off of Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki.
Mr. Sowore, who had earlier issued a statement to accept the result of the primary and urged their followers to support PDP, affirmed that the party’s candidate, Jegede, met with the deputy governor for post-primary reconciliation.
Also, commenting on the development, Mr. Babatope Okeowo, the Deputy Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, said: “It is the handiwork of the state government to portray him as a desperate person. This is not fair…”
