Ondo Deputy Governor, Ajayi, Again, Dumps PDP, Picks ZLP Ticket; He Is A Rolling Stone, Many Say |The Source

By Ayodele Oni, Akure

At last, Ondo State Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, has emerged a candidate, and  will participate in the October 10 governorship election in the state.

The fact became clearer on Monday following his statement on his Twitter handle that he has resigned his appointment from the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) and joined the Zenith Labour Party, (ZLP) and immediately given the ticket for the party’s governorship.

A member of ZLP, Mr Rotimi Benjamin, whose name was earlier sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) was dropped to pave way for Ajayi.

The deputy governor, in the message, thanked the national leadership and members of the PDP for their warm reception and acceptance in the short period he was with the party.

He had earlier resigned his membership of All Progressives Congress, (APC) in June and joined the PDP.

He participated in the PDP primary election in July, and was defeated by Mr Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, a former Commissioner in the state.

He also informed the Chairman of the PDP in Apoi Ward  two of Ese-Odo Local Government Area, Festus Oboro, who confirmed receiving Ajayi’s resignation letter 9th of August, 2020.

Reacting to the anticipated departure of Ajayi from its fold, the PDP in the state was confident that it will have no effect on the prospects of victory in the election.

A statement by the publicity secretary of the party, Kennedy Peretei, in Akure reads, “The Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State has received the exit of Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi from the party, from just online publications. As a party, we have not received his letter of resignation but we wish him well in his political journey.

“Agboola Ajayi joined our party on 22nd June, 2020 and participated at the governorship primaries having received waver from the national secretariat of the Party.

“He has abused the welcome and privilege accorded him by our party supporters during his brief stay in the party. He also proved that he is desperate to become the Governor of Ondo State.

“In the days to come, it will dawn on him that, he has squandered whatever was remaining in his good will with this decision.

“However, his exit from the PDP will not affect our prospects of winning the October gubernatorial elections this year. The PDP remains solid, strong and more determined than ever before to win the forthcoming Governorship elections with a credible and competent Candidate in the person of Eyitayo Jegede, SAN.”

Not a few people are laughing at Ajayi, and calling him a rolling stone that gathers no morse, and will never gather any morse.

How can a man jump across three parties within  a couple of weeks? Said an angry PDP member, ”He is in politics for selfish reasons. It is either he becomes a Governor or not. No wonder he didn’t get on with the Governor. He was competing for the office with the Governor. Let him go. He will lose his Local Government.”