Guber: Masses will give Ondo PDP victory, defectors inconsequential, says Adeleke

Governor of Osun State and Chairman of the National Campaign Council of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the forthcoming off-cycle governorship election in Ondo State, Ademola Adeleke, has stated that some leaders of the party who defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are inconsequential.

Adeleke, who stated this at the PDP’s secretariat in Akure, the state capital, while inaugurating the State Campaign Council headed by Dr. Eddy Olafeso, said that the masses would determine who emerged victorious at the polls.

While dismissing the insinuations that the defection of some PDP leaders would affect the chances of the party at the polls, the Osun Governor urged PDP members in Ondo State not to be wary, as he was not also given a chance but emerged victorious.

Adeleke expressed confidence in the ability and pedigree of the governorship candidate of the party, Agboola Ajayi, and said, “PDP is a peaceful party. We will stay with an issue-based campaign. People out there know what is going on. They are the ones that will decide the winner of the poll. But it depends on our agitation. Go back to your various local governments and wards and start the work.

“There is nothing that God cannot do. It is difficult in Africa, especially in Nigeria, to defeat an incumbent. We did it in Osun State. We did it in 2018, and they robbed us. God said, ‘My son, don’t worry. I am reserving your seat.’

“Then, they knew me as a dancer, and I told a lot of people that I would dance to that government house. And God answered our prayers, and God will answer Ondo PDP’s prayer this time.

“We are going to win the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State. We are not going back. We are moving forward. We must keep talking about this. Don’t doubt this. I have poured him that anointing.”

Adeleke added that “PDP remains the only party in Nigeria that has been wiping away tears from the faces of the masses,” while referring to rival APC as a party that operates like a cultist group with a retrogressive and parochial agenda.

“The workings of the PDP government are open to all and sundry in all the PDP states, where the masses have always been the top priority of the government. The same thing will happen in Ondo State when the PDP takes over Alagbaka as of February 2025.

“Before we came to government, they said we cannot perform in Osun State; go back to the state now. What the APC could not achieve in 12 years, we have achieved under one and a half years, which shows that we are more progressive than any other party in Nigeria,” Governor Adeleke said.

His words: “All we need is a commitment to our goal; pursue our goals selflessly, and victory shall be ours. I tell you Imole (light) is here, and I am here to light my brother’s path to victory. I have told Gov. Ayedatiwa that I am here in Ondo State to drive my party to victory and that Alagbaka is for the PDP as of next February,” Adeleke revealed.

With Ajayi insisting that the PDP would win the polls despite the defection of bigwigs within the party, Olafeso, on his part, said the defectors left when the party needed them most and assured that the council would deliver victory.

Olafeso said, “We have to work. Don’t be afraid. We are so lucky to have Governor Adeleke. We also have Governor Seyi Makinde. We will win by the grace of God. Everybody is feeling the pain of hunger caused by the APC. For me, I will dedicate everything I have to the battle. We have been pared down and suppressed by some selfish people. We are back and back for better.”