[OPINION] Ondo Election: The Coming Back of Eyitayo Jegede that Might Send Akeredolu Packing from Alagbaka

Author: Tunde Odusanya

The coming back of Eyitayo Jegede in Ondo State for the 2020 election.










Just few days, he won as the PDP flag bearer after he participated in the primaries with many others having to acclaim victory over the former deputy of the state who defected from APC. He polled a unique triplet number of votes, 888 votes out of the 2111 delegates that involved in the election exercise.


This is not his first time; he was also the flag bearer for the same party in the previous election (2016) but, he was defeated by Akeredolu.










Now, it will be a battle between the two again in the election coming up in few months, because they are undisputable big dogs emerging from two different strong party, APC and PDP, and no other person looks like threat to them. But, one person must come a winner.


Between Akeredolu and Eyitayo, who will win the Ondo guber race?










Eyitayo Jegede is a lawyer and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, a native of Akure, born to the family of late Chief Johnson Bosede, the Odopetu of Isinkan, Akure and Mrs C.O Jegede (née Asokeji) from Ipele town, near Owo in Ondo State. He has involved deeply in Political cases and he was once the Attorney General and commissioner of Justice in Ondo State.


Akeredolu on the other hand is also a Nigerian lawyer and a SAN, and currently the governor of the state, who is seeking for second term in office after defeating every other opponents in the primary flawlessly. He is from Owo, in Ondo state.










What Affected Eyitayo in 2016?

Recalling to last election, Eyitayo Jegede came second in the poll, despite the stress his campaigns faced, that got him almost out of the guber race.










He was allowed to contest, on 23rd of November (2016), just three days to the election after an Appeal court of law in Abuja cancelled the initial ruling of a Federal high court that has declared the faction of the party (PDP) that has Jimoh Ibrahim, as Party's candidate.


In 2016, PDP has two factions in Ondo State, the main (supposed) PDP and the factional PDP. What cause the division was perhaps because the ruling party (of Olusegun Mimiko) in 2016, defected from Labour Party to support Eyitayo of supposed PDP. It caused a lot of argument, and resulted to formation of a Factional PDP (of Jimoh Ibrahim). However, Eyitayo ran and he came second in the poll despite the shortcoming.










In my opinion, I believe that Eyitayo would have won in 2016, if he was allowed to have smooth campaign from the onset. The difference in their votes were just 74,462, after he polled 150,380 against Akeredolu who polled 224,842.


Considering that time and now where Jegede will have a smooth campaign, he might send Akeredolu packing.


Factors that may work for Eyitayo Jegede










The factors that will work for him is majorly within the electorate


1. In Ondo state, people don't vote for party anymore, they vote for personality and when it comes to good personality, Eyitayo has created it. In fact, he has registered his name in the mind of the people of Ondo state already

2. Eyitayo is from the state capital, Akure, which is more populated than any other LGA. An opportunity for Akure people to have a first governor from their town.


These factors, if played well, will help Eyitayo win and might send Akeredolu packing from the Governor's house in Alagbaka.