Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has said that the Peoples Democratic Party lost the 2020 Ondo State Governorship election due to disunity and division in the party.

Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission set November 16, 2024, as the scheduled date for the Ondo State Governorship election.

According to the party’s timetable, the party’s congress, where its governorship candidate will emerge will be held on Thursday, April 25, 2024.

The sale of expression of interest, nomination forms, and Ad-hoc forms is slated for March 7 – March 21. March 25 is the deadline for the submission of completed expression of interest and Ad-hoc forms.

Makinde, stated this on Tuesday during an interactive meeting between critical stakeholders from Ondo State and the National Working Committee at the PDP national headquarters, Wadata Plaza in Abuja.

The governor of Oyo State stressed that they gained valuable lessons from the 2020 Ondo State governorship election, highlighting that while party leaders and members can celebrate success together, failure is challenging to handle collectively.

He announced that the party’s ticket won’t be given easily to any aspirant, emphasising that it will be a competitive battle among all contenders.

Makinde stated, “We learned from the last governorship election. Actually, you learn more when you fail than when you succeed. So we learned bitter lessons.

“For the benefit of everybody, the governorship election in Ondo State is not going to be handed over to anybody. It will be a fight. As PDP, we will fight.

“If, in the past four years ago, we had that division within us that allowed the seat to slip away from us. At this time, we are united and we will stay united to the election. So this is a time for us to come together.

“We may disagree on a few things but from our situation in the Oyo States. Yes, we have disagreements, but we’re solving our problems even as we speak. We’re not solving it outside. We’re solving it right inside the Government House.

“So if you disagree, it’s normal. But let us win the Government House and then all the areas of disagreement we will keep addressing it. We can only share success; failure is difficult to share. So, by God’s grace, we shall be successful in the forthcoming Ondo State governorship election.”

Earlier in his remarks, the acting National Chairman of the PDP, Umar Damagum, urged the governorship aspirants to conduct their campaigns with caution.

He stated “This meeting is part of the fulfillment of the process of the primaries that is before us, and we invited you here so that we’ll have an interactive session.

“We invite you to talk freely. I want to encourage all members to express their views, but please, do so with caution. I also want to reiterate that there is going to be only one candidate. I know there are many contestants interested in this, but only one candidate will emerge. So, as we proceed, I urge us to act with a lot of caution.”

“We have three points to discuss: the mode of the primaries, consensus, and zoning.”

Those in attendance include Former Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko; 2016 and 2020 PDP Governorship candidate, Eyitayo Jegede; PDP State Acting Chairman, Tola Alabere; and Otunba Bamidele Akingboye.

NWC members who attended the meeting include National Secretary, Sam Anyawu; Deputy National Chairman (South), Amb. Taofeek Arapaja; National Organizing Secretary, Umar Bature; and the National Publicity Secretary, among others. (The PUNCH)

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