The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has revealed why the Peoples Democratic Party lost the 2020 Ondo State governorship election.
He spoke at a meeting between critical stakeholders from Ondo State and the National Working Committee.
At the meeting at the PDP national headquarters, Wadata Plaza in Abuja, Makinde said PDP gained valuable lessons from the 2020 Ondo State governorship election, noting that party leaders and members can celebrate success together while failure is challenging to handle collectively.
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The Oyo State Governor further disclosed that the party’s ticket won’t be given easily to any aspirant, stressing that it will be a competitive battle among all contenders.
Makinde said: “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 State, 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 address, the acting National Chairman of the PDP, Umar Damagum, enjoined the governorship aspirants to conduct their campaigns with caution.
Damagum said: “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.”
Damagum further explained that the meeting was to discuss three major points: mode of the primaries, consensus and zoning.
Those in attendance included 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 included the National Secretary, Sam Anyawu; Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; National Organizing Secretary, Umar Bature; and National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba.