SOUTH-West leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) met on Monday in Ibadan to strategise ahead of the November governorship election in Ondo State.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting, hosted by Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, was held at the Presidential Lodge, Government House, Agodi, Ibadan.
Addressing newsmen at the end of the meeting, Makinde said the party leaders’ convergence opened up the process of reconciling PDP tendencies in Ondo State.
He noted the PDP family had begun to speak with one voice.
According to him, the party governorship candidate in the November election in Ondo State, Mr Agboola Ajayi, and others will team up to ensure the party excel at the election.
The governor said all PDP leaders and stakeholders from across the six South-West states were behind Agboola.
He expressed optimism that the party candidate would reclaim Ondo State from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“With our leaders from across the South-West standing behind our candidate in Ondo State, I think it is a strong signal to the present occupier of the Ondo Government House that PDP is coming and it will happen.
“Our candidate, Mr Agboola Ajayi, is here and the first step forward for us is to reconcile all the tendencies in Ondo State.
“This is because once we have a unified PDP in Ondo State, we have a path to the Alagbaka Government House, Akure,” he said.
Giving details of the meeting, Gov. Ademola Adeleke of Osun told newsmen that the South-West PDP came together to deliberate on the affairs of the party regarding the forthcoming election in Ondo State.
Adeleke said the leaders congratulated Agboola for winning the party primary in a transparent process that showed the PDP was a democratic party that followed due process.
“We also began the reconciliation process, because we know some people are upset and we believe our leaders will go back home to bring everybody together,” he said.
Thereafter, Agboola thanked Makinde and Adeleke as well as other PDP leaders for their support ahead of the election.
According to him, the party is formidable in Ondo State as all members of one family are working to deliver the state to the PDP fold in November.
Among the PDP leaders who attended the meeting were former governors of Osun and Ondo states, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Dr Olusegun Mimiko respectively.
The 2023 PDP governorship candidate in Ogun, Ladi Adebutu; a former PDP governorship candidate in Ondo State, Eyitayo Jegede; and former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George, graced the meeting.
PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Amb. Taofeek Arapaja; and the party South-West Chairman, Mr Kamoru Ajisafe, were also in attendance. (NAN)
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