Eyitayo Jegede, a two-time former governorship candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, has opted out of the state’s November 16 governorship race.
Jegede, who hails from Ondo Central senatorial district, had previously contested for the governorship under the PDP in 2016 and 2020 but was unsuccessful against the governing All Progressives Congress (APC).
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In a statement released on Thursday in Akure, Jegede stated that he decided to withdraw from the 2024 governorship race to promote unity and ensure the PDP’s victory in the forthcoming poll. He acknowledged that disunity had hindered any PDP candidate from winning the governorship race in the state and opted to sacrifice his ambition for the party’s development.
In the statement titled “It is Time to Rebuild the Party for Victory,” Jegede mentioned that, following extensive consultations, he concluded that reevaluating whether to proceed or take a different path was necessary to align with the prevailing sentiment for equitable representation, equity, and fair play, especially concerning the governorship.
