Ondo guber: PDP’ll take over state —Damagum, Adeleke, others

•Ajayi unveils 7-point agenda as party flags off campaign
•Makinde calls for REC’s redeployment, begs voters against vote-selling

By Dayo Johnson

THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, flagged off its campaign for the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State, with party leaders boasting that the PDP would take over the state from the All Progressives Congress, APC.

This was as Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, urged the people not to sell their votes while calling for the redeployment of the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Mrs. Toyin Babalola, before the November 16 governorship election, to ensure neutrality of the electoral umpire.

He also asked Ondo people to vote for the PDP Candidate, Agboola Ajayi, who “will bring about the desired change you have been yearning for. This is the beginning of a new dawn for PDP in Ondo State.
Don’t sell your votes, shun moneybags who want to buy your conscience. We must reflect on the hardship and pains of the last seven years as party members and vote Agboola, the PDP candidate.

“We’ve seen what vote-buying and selling have led us to. If they come to you, don’t sell your votes. We cannot allow you to suffer for another four years in Ondo State. You can see the dividends of democracy in Oyo, Osun and other PDP states in Nigeria

He charged the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to redeploy Babalola, over alleged partisanship and affiliation with an interested party in the election

“This message is for INEC National Chairman, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood, you must redeploy the Ondo REC, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola. She is from Ondo State.
“We will protest until she is removed. Ondo REC must be redeployed. She was born here, her parents live here. She can never be fair in this election. We don’t want her in Ondo State, Babalola must leave.
“What they did in Edo will not succeed in Ondo. We will protest until she is removed. Bring another REC that will be fair, that will allow a level playing field. We as PDP aren’t afraid of any contest. Remove her or else, we will continue to protest.”

Adeleke, Damagun speak

The Chairman of the PDP National Campaign Council for Ondo State election, Senator Ademola Adeleke, described the flag off as an end to the era of darkness in Ondo State, saying the Ondo people will soon witness drastic changes in every sector.

Adeleke said that the APC administration has taken Ondo State several steps backward, and urged the people to reject APC at the poll.

“I must say that the era of darkness is over in Osun and I welcome Ondo and the people of the state to light. Light illuminates and transforms, so we are here to celebrate the beginning of the transformation of Ondo.” he said.

The Osun state governor expressed optimism that PDP would win the governorship election, and usher in unprecedented development in the state because the people had seen and felt the poor performance of the APC government.

He charged PDP members to support the campaign council and work for the success of the party in the governorship poll.

The PDP Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, who also called for the redeployment of Babalola said the party would defend their votes with blood, saying “there is no good road and other infrastructure in Ondo.

“Opportunity has come for you to change the narrative. There is suffering, hardship, and poverty in the land and we will work to protect our people. We would work to reduce the hardship of our people.
“We will improve on the security enjoyed in the state, create employment opportunities, and reduce criminal activities in the state and the country,” he said.

Ajayi unveils 7-point agenda

The PDP flag bearer, Agboola Ajayi, while speaking on his seven-point agenda, which include infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare and infrastructural development among others, said: “We will enhance the capacity of law enforcement agencies particularly Amotekun, Forest Guards, Vigilantes, and Traditional Hunters through advanced training and provision of appropriate equipment.

“With the cooperative engagement of traditional rulers, religious leaders, and other stakeholders implement community policing and neighborhood watch programmes to improve public safety.

“Massively, we will produce food to immediately end hunger in the state by purchasing and distributing high-yield seeds, seedlings and inputs to farmers.

“Increase and improve classrooms and other buildings for primary, secondary and tertiary institutions within the state. We will ensure free and compulsory education at the primary and junior secondary levels for all”

The governorship candidate said that his government will provide a primary health centre in each of the 203 wards in the state to be staffed by trained and dedicated medical personnel, and provide essential drugs, hospital consumables and laboratory services to patients at affordable costs.

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