Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, has said that the November 26 governorship election cannot hold if the issue of the candidacy of the Peoples Democratic Party remained unresolved.
He, however, expressed hope that the impasse over the PDP flag bearer in the governorship election would soon be resolved by the appellate court in no distant time.
The governor expressed the assurance that the candidate of the Ahmed Makarfi’s faction of the party, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), would contest the election.
The governor made this remark on Sunday at the PDP stakeholders’ meeting held in Akure, the state capital.
According to him, the PDP as a party in Nigeria and Ondo State in particular, was a major stakeholder in election matter and no one can prevent the party from participating in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
He said, “I don’t know how they will do it, it is impossible for them to deny us our right. Justice will stand and Jegede will contest this election. Election can’t take place in Ondo State without the PDP.”
The governor further noted that the substitution of Jegede’s name at the Independent National Electoral Commission was a conspiracy because the decision of INEC could not find comfort “in justice, in principle, in law and in morality.”
The governor lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for his action towards good and credible elections in the country by ensuring that justice would be done regarding the Ondo election.
He, however, debunked insinuations that he went to see Buhari as a prelude to crossing over to the All Progressives Congress.
He explained, “I had to see the President in my capacity as the Chief Security Officer in Ondo State, briefing the Chief Security Officer of the country on the need to allow justice to prevail, and Mr. President gave his commitment to ensure that justice will be done and I have no reason to doubt him.
“Justice will stand and Jegede will contest the election. Election can’t take place without the PDP.
“We know those that are behind this. It is beyond the President. Their thinking is that without Jegede, they will win, but their plan will fail.”
