PDP Crises Deepens in Ondo After Party Governors Meet Mimiko
POLITICS DIGEST- The festering crisis in the Ondo State chapter of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deepened on Thursday as four governors elected on the platform of the party sealed a deal with a former governor of the state, Olusegun Mimiko ahead of 2023.
The governors, Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto) and Okezie Ikpeazu, (Abia) met with Mimiko at his Ondo residence with an unwritten understating that the immediate past two term governor would be considered as the party’s senatorial candidate for the 2023 election for Ondo Central.
Aside Mimiko. DAILY INDEPENDENT gathered that the governorship candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) in the 2020 election and immediate past deputy governor, Agboola Alfred Ajayi also got endorsement of the PDP governors as senatorial candidate of the party for the Southern district in 2023.
The incumbent, Ayo Akinyelure is expected to seek another term for the central senatorial district even as Eddy Olafeso who was disqualified in the race for the office of National Publicity Secretary was said to have been tipped to run for senate as compensation.
Both Mimiko and Ajayi, alongside their followers will formally defect to the PDP in a matter of days following the conclusion of the Thursday meeting which sealed the deal.
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But a member of the State Executive Committee of the PDP told a team of reporters on the condition of anonymity that the entire party leadership was neither notified of the Ondo meeting nor consulted on the modalities agreed upon.
According to him, the new deal with both Mimiko and Ajayi had further polarised the party because the governorship candidate, Eyitayo Jegede, SAN had been agreed upon as possible senatorial candidate for 2023 before the latest development.
The governors meeting which has only created more factions and divisions in the party with that unwritten understating. How would they come to negotiate with Mimiko and Ajayi, who both dumped the party at most critical moments without consulting the party leadership.
“Not even the State Chairman was aware of the meeting where they conceeded two senatorial tickets ahead of time to the two.
“So how can a meeting where Jegede, Fatai Adams, two senators and one Rep shunned in Ondo State be considered credible?”, he fumed.
At the meeting are former deputy governor, Agboola Ajayi, three members of the Ondo state house of assembly, Rasheed Elegbeleye, Tomide Akinribido, Festus Akingbaso, former speaker, Jumoke Akindele, former chief Judge, Olaseinde Kumuyi and deputy governorship Candidate of ZLP in the 2020 election, Gboye Adegbenro.
Others include former House of Reps member, Joseph Akinlaja, ex-governorship aspirant, Banji Okunomo, as well as Dr Kola Ademujimi, Eni Akinsola, John-Paul Akinduro, Andrew Ogunsakin, Ayo Fadoju, Afolabi Akinsiku, Bolanle Olafunmiloye, Funmilola Oluwadare, Taye Afilaka among other top former senior aides to Mimiko
 deepened on Thursday as four governors){kind=link}