The People’s Democratic Party, on Tuesday, presented a Certificate of Return to its Ondo State governorship candidate, former Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi.
The former Deputy Governor won the primary conducted by PDP on Thursday last week.
In his welcome remarks, the Acting National Chairman of the party, Ambassador Umar Damagum, while presenting the Certificate of Return, noted that dissenting voices marked the APC primary.
Damagum said, “At a time our opponents could not put their acts together, but we in the opposition much was expected of us and we shamed them, we produced a candidate without a dissenting voice. It’s because of what we have put in place that has made this possible.”
Describing the steps taken by the PDP to ensure a smooth primary process, Damagum stated, “During our stakeholders meeting, we agreed that all the aspirants must come from the South, and by the grace of God, that is what happened. This shows the party’s preparedness to take over Ondo State.
“Even from the last election we know that Ondo is PDP and from the stakeholders meeting and other engagements, we were able to come out with a single candidate.”
He advised Ajayi not to assume that all of his fellow aspirants have conceded to him.
Damagum stressed the significance of extending efforts to secure their support and ensure victory for the PDP in the state.
The PDP National Chairman highlighted the challenge of winning the state for the PDP and encouraged Ajayi to commence vigorous campaigning, including door-to-door outreach.
He continued, “You must work hard to make sure PDP takes Ondo State, but we will have our stakeholders meeting in the South West on Monday and work for the party.
“Unlike the other parties, we have an internal working mechanism and when we talk to ourselves we are not garrison commanders, but we engage and that is why till today PDP remains a brand. It is the only party that you will come as nobody and becomes somebody.”
In his acceptance speech, the PDP gubernatorial candidate, Ajayi, pledged wholehearted commitment to securing victory in the forthcoming election slated for November 16.
Ajayi highlighted that the upcoming gubernatorial election offers the PDP a distinct chance to foster genuine and enduring development for the people of Ondo, as well as for the party.
He said, “It is truly humbling, and I accept this responsibility and promise to carry out work towards winning the upcoming election with utmost dedication as we all embark on a new journey in service to our beloved Ondo State and our party, the PDP.
“This election is a defining moment for us; It is about all of us coming together to chart a new course for Ondo State.
“It is about embracing our collective vision and aspirations for a better, more prosperous future; it, therefore, cannot be about me alone.
“The forthcoming November 16th governorship election presents us a unique opportunity to bring about real and sustainable development for the people of Ondo, and the PDP, as the largest political party in Africa, is positioned to lead this transformational change.
“The challenges we face, from poverty to unemployment, insecurity and economic hardship, require urgent and decisive action. We cannot afford to dwell on past mistakes or divisive rhetoric.
“Instead, we must focus on uniting to provide solutions that prioritize the well-being of our people and communities.
“Our vision for Ondo State is one of growth, opportunity, and equity. We envision a state where every child has access to quality education, where healthcare is affordable and accessible, and where infrastructure supports economic growth and connectivity.”
