Tinubu declares support for Jegede ...Aregbesola, others kick

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has declared support for the candidate of the People's Democratic Party, PDP, in tomorrow's governorship election in Ondo State. 


This came after a meeting of the representatives of the former Lagos governor and Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State in the early hours of today. The deal, it was learnt, was brokered by Ekiti State governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, who had recently forged a relationship with Tinubu. However, investigations revealed that the deal is being opposed to by Osun State governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola.
   Aregbesola, it was learnt, is strongly in support of Chief Olusola Oke of the Alliance for Democracy, AD, and is reluctant in agreeing with Tinubu's deal with Mimiko, Jegede and PDP. Aregbesola had been a major financier of Oke's AD but is now facing the challenge of pulling out at the last minute. The new deal seems to have put the Oke campaign in turmoil as the funds expected from Lagos had not come as at 12 noon today.

 A competent source close to the deal, told this magazine that the decision of Tinubu to support the candidate of the PDP was in continuation of the efforts of the APC leader to reconcile with leaders of the PDP in the South West. With the national leadership of the APC working against the interest of Tinubu in the south west region, the former Lagos governor is now reconstructing his political base in the region.

 

Both Mimiko and Fayose had held separate meetings with Tinubu and had agreed to form a working partnership ahead of the 2019 general election. Part of the deal was that Tinubu would support both Mimiko and Fayose would be allowed to control the politics of their respective states. Also an integral part of the deal is the former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who is jointly spearheading the realignment with Tinubu.