It was learnt that the former Ondo State deputy governor, pledged his loyalty to former state governor, Olusegun Mimiko, who himself is a member of the so-called Integrity Group led by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.
Agboola Ajayi, the Senatorial Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party In Ondo South Senatorial District has omitted the images of the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and his running mate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, from his campaign posters and billboards.
It was learnt that the former Ondo State deputy governor, pledged his loyalty to former state governor, Olusegun Mimiko, who himself is a member of the so-called Integrity Group led by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.
A source who expressed ill feelings over Ajayi’s action told SaharaReporters that the ex-deputy governor deliberately excluded the pictures of Atiku and his running mate, Okowa from his campaign posters to prove his loyalty to Mimiko.
“He is risking his ambition. It’s high time I distanced myself from him because he knows that members and stakeholders of our party in Ondo South Senatorial District are for Atiku and the PDP.
“He has forgotten this is PDP and is no longer in Zenith Labour Party. Unfortunately, Mimiko has nothing to lose. How can you be a candidate running for an election and you are risking your ambition for a man who is not on the ballot? This is strange.
"How can the people from your senatorial district be working for a man and you are turning yourself against the same man? Eddy Olafeso is Atiku’s State and Southwest Coordinator. All the serving lawmakers, the Senator, Nicholas Tofowomo, and members of the House of Representatives, Kolade Akinjo and Ikengboju Gboluga are all working for Atiku, but my friend is isolating himself”, the source said.
One of the State Executives who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter said Ajayi was broke and one of the candidates who relied on Atiku’s campaign fund. He expressed sadness over the development.
“Unfortunately Ajayi is broke and he is one of those relying on Atiku’s campaign money to fund his senatorial campaign. Very sad,” he said.
The photograph of the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku had in October also been missing on the party’s branded vehicles for campaigns for the 2023 general election in Rivers State.
The branded vehicles, numbering about 25 were unveiled on October 24, 2022, along with the party campaign council secretariat, located along Woji Road in GRA, Port Harcourt.
The campaign council, christened “New Rivers Vision Consolidation Project” has former PDP chairman in the state, Chief Felix Obuah, as director-general while Governor Nyesom Wike is the chairman.