Mimiko urges fair deal for Jegede, seeks postponement

Governor Olusegun Mimiko has urged fair deal for Eyitayo Jegede who was yesterday affirmed as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, by postponing the Ondo election.

It was celebration in Akure, the Ondo State capital after the Appeal Court set aside the ruling of Justice Okon Abang that ordered that Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) be replaced as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Several groups of jubilant supporters, after they had caused serious traffic across Akure metropolis, moved to the Akure Airport to await the arrival of Governor Mimiko, Jegede and other members their team from Abuja.

Some supporters were sighted trekking along Oba-Ile and Eleyowo towns to the airport to celebrate the victory with those coming from Abuja.

Waiting anxiously for the team were the First Lady, Kemi Mimiko, the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Lasisi Oluboyo, the Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade and other party chieftains.

The Akure traditional band mobilized themselves to the venue, entertaining the huge crowd to celebrate the victory of their kinsman to realise the Akure Agenda.

Party loyalists, who gathered in groups discussing, hinged their faith on the political dexterity of Mimiko, the first governor to break the political jinx in the state: winning two terms consecutively.

Suddenly, the roaring engine of the flight announced the arrival of the governor and his party candidate at about 7:15 pm.
Mimiko, who was flanked by party chieftains after the aircraft taxied to a halt, without Jegede, urged INEC to do justice to the candidature of Jegede by postponing the poll.

He faulted the Justice Abang judgment. “Eyitayo Jegede’s name was substituted by INEC against logic, common sense, law, against their own regulation. Now, two days before the election we eventually got some reprieve from the Court of Appeal.”