The emergence of Eyitayo Jegede as the Ondo 2020 Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate has brought about an improved relationship with former Governor Olusegun Mimiko and this will surely affect his chances at the polls.
Jegede had served under Mimiko and also got his backing to emerge as the PDP candidate in the 2016 governorship election but he lost to incumbent governor Rotimi Akeredolu.
According to insiders, after the loss the relationship between the two political allies became frosty, so much so that when Mimiko dumped the PDP and moved his political family into the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Jegede stayed back in the PDP.
It was also gathered that Mimiko, though no longer a member of the PDP, did not hide his opposition to Ajayi’s ambition and also frowned at his return to the party.
Insiders say he’s still very bitter over the roles played by Ajayi in the PDP’s loss to APC in 2016.
This was the situation until Jegede renewed his gubernatorial ambition and current Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, challenged him for the PDP ticket.
Ajayi himself then an associate of Mimiko’s and a serving member of the Federal House of Representatives dumped PDP and pitched his tent with Akeredolu and APC, emerging as the deputy governorship candidate.
Reliable sources say Jegede’s victory on Wednesday didn’t come without serous input from Mimiko who reached out to his erstwhile allies and associates on the candidate’s behalf.
Furthermore, Sentry learnt that he may have resolved to help Jegede defeat Akeredolu at the general election.
