After two failed attempts, Jegede withdraws from Ondo Guber raceÂ

Eyitayo Jegede, lawyer and two-times governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has withdrawn from partaking in the next Ondo governorship election.

Jegede was his party’s standard bearer in 2016 and 2020 but lost to Rotimi Akeredolu, who died in office after suffering a health challenge.

In a long statement announcing his withdrawal, Jegede noted that the PDP constitution was not “receptive to zoning”.

The demand for equity in allowing another zone, other than Jegede’s, produce the next candidate, seemed one of the underlying reasons for his action. Rather, Jegede said he was stepping out of the race to allow “those who have shown exceptional qualities…consistency and unalloyed loyalty to the party” take the plunge.

“I feel it is time to allow these men the opportunity to try their luck in the primary and by God’s grace, ultimately win the governorship election, all the aspirants would be accorded every support that is available at my disposal,” he said.

Jegede also said that he was “committed to making all necessary sacrifices to provide solutions to the problems of the party rather than join in compounding it.”