Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has predicted a decisive defeat for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the upcoming November 16 Ondo governorship election, claiming that the ruling party and its national chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, will be stunned by the outcome. Makinde, a key leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Southwest geopolitical zone, emphasized that the region remains loyal to PDP and hinted at further electoral defeats for the APC in future elections across the zone.
Makinde made these statements while leading the PDP campaign train to the Akoko region of Ondo State. He dismissed Ganduje’s recent remarks in Akure, where the APC chairman boasted that the party would capture all Southwest states, starting with a win in the Ondo election.
Makinde Boasts of PDP’s Strength in Ondo
Governor Makinde remained confident about PDP’s chances, stating that the party is still vibrant and connected with the people of Ondo State. He suggested that both Ganduje and Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who had previously declared the PDP dead in the state, would face an unexpected defeat.
“If wishes were horses, everybody would be riding them,” Makinde quipped. “The people of the Southwest, especially here in Ondo State, are wiser. You can see the crowd and the enthusiasm. On November 16th, the people of Ondo will make it clear that this state, and indeed the entire Southwest, belongs to the PDP.”
Makinde further stated that the outcome of the election will send a strong message not just to the APC but to the entire country. “Talk is cheap,” he said, “but the people of Ondo State will speak loud and clear on the 16th of November 2024, and the whole nation will hear it.”
APC Chairman’s Optimism
In contrast, APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje had expressed confidence in his party’s dominance in the region, suggesting that the Ondo governorship election would mark the beginning of a broader APC takeover in the Southwest.
However, Makinde dismissed Ganduje’s optimism, asserting that PDP remains the preferred choice of the people. He highlighted the enthusiasm of the people during the PDP rally and expressed confidence in the party’s victory come election day.
The Ondo governorship election, scheduled for November 16, 2024, has become a battleground between the ruling APC and the opposition PDP, with both parties vying for dominance in the crucial Southwest region. While the APC is the ruling party at the national level, the PDP maintains strong influence in several states, including Oyo, led by Governor Seyi Makinde.
The PDP’s campaign in Ondo centered on reclaiming the state and challenging the APC’s control in the Southwest. The result of this election will likely have wider implications for both parties, particularly in the lead-up to future national elections.
With just weeks to go until the Ondo governorship election, the stage is set for a fierce contest between APC and PDP. Governor Makinde’s bold prediction of a PDP victory underscores the significance of this election in shaping the political landscape of the Southwest and Nigeria at large.
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