The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State is currently looking at how it would make a return to power in the state in the 2020 governorship election.

To some individuals in the state, this appears to be a tall dream for the party to achieve. PDP members and supporters see this as a possible goal that must be achieved.

In the recent time, the party leadership under the chairmanship of Clement Faboyede is making frantic efforts at wooing back into the party all former members who had defected at one time or another to other political parties in preparation for the 2020 governorship election.

In November, some former stalwarts of the party came in large number to the party’s Secretariat at Alagbaka, Akure, to declare their return to the party.

Though they didn’t come with their followers because a later date was fixed for the reception of the new returnees and their followers, the party secretariat was filled with party members who were curious to witness the event.

The result recorded in the move to bring back former members was a testimony to the grassroots strategy being adopted by the party to shore up its numerical strength ahead of the game of number.

No fewer than 17 members of the party have expressed interest in flying the party’s gubernatorial flag at the poll next year.

Eyitayo Jegede, the party’s standard bearer in 2016 governorship election, Olorogun Eddy Olafeso, current National Vice Chairman (South West) of the party, Prince John Ola Mafo, Mr. Goddey Erejuwa, Barrister Sola Ebiseni, Mr. Banji Okunomo, Senator Boluwaji Kunlere and Hon Kolade Akinjo, are among those who have indicated their interests in the party’s gubernatorial ticket and warming up for the party’s primary.

The crisis among members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state seems to be giving the PDP more courage and confidence in its drive to wrest power and return to the governor’s seat in the state.

The state chairman of the party, Faboyede stated unequivocally that he and leaders of the party have no anointed candidate, assuring a level playing field for all aspirants during the party’s primary.

He made the declaration when Dr. Olafeso came to the party secretariat to inform the party leadership of his interest in the party’s governorship ticket.

The party’s leadership might have learnt a good lesson from the mode it conducted the party’s primaries for different elective positions in the last general elections when it made serious incursion in the National Assembly seats. (Sunday Independent)

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