Tambuwal, a charismatic leader and friend of all even to the All Progressives Congress (APC) Rotimi Akeredolu, jetted presumably from the Seat of Caliphate into the ancient city of Akure this time for the candidate of his beloved party, PDP, Professor Eyitayo Jegede, who will be facing the incumbent and other contestants in the election.
Supporters thronged out in their numbers to the MKO Abiola Democracy Park besides the Akure Central Mosque where the rally took place.
While obviously Tambuwal was physically present at the rally to stand in solidarity with Jegede, PDP National Chairman, Mr. Uche Secondus, came on ground and presented the party’s flag to all-important candidate.
Other dignitaries present at the PDP flag-off included the Senator representing Ekiti South, Abiodun Olujimi, and the Ondo State Chairman of PDP, Mr. Fatai Adams.
Representing Vice President Atiku Abubakar at the flag off was Segun Sowunmi.
“They (APC) said you should vote them because they want Presidency to come to Yoruba land,” Makinde said during his speech, which was, as much of the rally, punctuated by short bursts of political music.
“This election is not about the presidency to Yoruba land. This election is about delivering Eyitayo Jegede and putting Ondo state as part of the states that will lead the charge to restructure Nigeria.”
Makinde, who is also the party’s Campaign Council chairman for the election, drew a comparison between his election in Oyo and the impending Ondo version.
Makinde won the Oyo elections in 2019 despite contesting under the PDP, which didn’t hold political sway in the state at the time, or at the federal level.
“We have people, and we have God,” he said. “In Ondo State, you have God and you have people. It happened in Oyo state, it will happen here.”
In his remarks, Tambuwal said the APC, the current ruling party in Ondo, was in disarray up to the national. “APC is not a choice for Ondo state,” he said.
Jegede will battle with incumbent Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of the APC and others in the October 10 election.
