Kehinde Fajobi
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cautioned the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) against any attempt to dominate Ondo State, warning that the South West region cannot be “bought or captured.”
This message was delivered on Monday by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, during a media briefing at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
Ologunagba was responding to comments made by APC National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, who had declared in Akure that the APC intends to “capture” all six states in the South West.
Ganduje’s remarks were made during a meeting ahead of the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State, where incumbent governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa is the APC candidate.
“The people of South West have a very rich history, a people who are very strong-willed, politically educated, and know what they want. Every student of history recognises clearly that the South West has always been a bastion for democratic rights,” Ologunagba said.
He further criticised Ganduje’s comments as “reckless and irresponsible,” stating, “For anybody, Ganduje for that matter, to come into Ondo State and say those reckless things calls for the attention of Nigerians and the international community. He is a threat to democracy. The APC should stay away from Ondo State.”
Ologunagba reiterated that the November 16 election would be fiercely contested, with Ondo voters ready to support the PDP.
He added, “The APC should watch it. We’ve never been captured and we are not prisoners. You can’t cow or suppress the people of Ondo state.”
The PDP currently governs Oyo and Osun states in the South West, while the APC holds Ekiti, Ondo, Lagos, and Ogun.