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Parties bicker over gov candidate
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that its ongoing reconciliation would be concluded before the November 10 governorship election in Ondo State.
Former National Secretary of PDP, Prof Wale Oladipo said at a press conference in Abuja yesterday that many elder statesmen within and outside the party had become worried about the likely harm a prolonged PDP crisis would cause democracy.
Oladipo said that the Ali Modu Sheriff group was fully prepared for the reconciliation.
He said that the Sheriff group and the Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee had agreed to set up a 24-man peace committee of 12 members from each group to handle the reconciliation.
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According to Oladipo, the panel might be appointed when Sheriff, who was said to have travelled outside the country, returned.
He said the five-month old crisis was caused by very strange actions of some party leaders.
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress candidate for the November 26 governorship election in Ondo State, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) has accused Governor Olusegun Mimiko of scheming to impose an incompetent successor so as to cover his alleged crimes in office.
The Chairman of Team Aketi 2017, Research and Communication, Mr. Kunle Adebayo, said the point must be made clearly that Mr. Eyitayo Jegede’s candidacy is a daring attempt by Governor Mimiko to seek a third term in office through the back-door.
But Eni Akinsola, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Mimiko remarked that Jegede was the immediate past Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice for over seven years and had garnered better experience in public service.
According to Akinsola, “It is unfair to compare a SAN who has also served as Chairman of all Attorneys General in the federation with someone who has little life in the public service. Our candidate resigned just recently for higher service as governor next year.”
