Sources within the camp of the out-going Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, have revealed why the just concluded Governorship election in the State, was sold out to the All Progressives Congress, APC, seven days to the Ondo State Guber Poll.
Recall, that Mimiko’s anointed candidate, suffered a terrifying defeat in the election that saw Rotimi Akeredolu of the APC, emerge as Governor-Elect, after the billionaire, Jimoh Ibrahim, played the spoiler role, orchestrated by the Ali Modu-Sheriff faction.
While the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, faithfuls in the State were still in shock over the loss, there are reports emerging from the Government house, that Mimiko did not actually lose the election, but sold it out to the ruling APC, in order to protect his political future.
A close Political Associate of the Governor, alleged that the election was a “deal” between Mimiko, and the hierarchy of the APC, led by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Throughout the campaigns, and the actual election, the PDP did not set up any campaign structure for its candidate, raising suspicion that it was meant to deliberately weaken Eyitayo Jegede.
“In the 2012 Governorship campaign, Mimiko set up a Campaign Directorate, headed by Akin Adaramola.
“There were also several Directorates during the election, including mobilization, youths, information, and communication, as well as protocol, but this time around, there was nothing like that,’’ the source said.
The source added, that Mimiko deliberately starved PDP members of funds for the election, so that the rival APC would have an edge.
According to the source, “it was Mimiko that introduced “see and buy” in the last House of Assembly election, and each of the Electorate was induced with not less than N2,000, to vote for PDP’s candidates.
“In Saturday’s Governorship poll, only N500 was given to each voter at the polling units, compared to APC that induced voters with not less than N5,000.’’
The source further said, that it was this fear of possible arrest, and detention, that made Mimiko to strike a deal with the APC, so as to protect him after he must have served out his constitutional two term tenures, by February next year.
Recall, that Mimiko had met with Buhari, three times within three weeks, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Babachir Lawal, thereby fueling the speculation of a deal with the Presidency, over the election.
During one of his visits to Ondo State, to campaign for Akeredolu, the Imo State Governor and Chairman of Progressives Governors Forum, Rochas Okorocha, met with Mimiko, at the Akure Airport.
Despite the denial by Mimiko’s Media Aides, it is believed that it was at the Airport meeting, that the deal to support Akeredolu, was struck.
Despite their political differences, Mimiko and Akeredolu are friends, as the Governor-Elect was one of the Lawyers, who represented him during the 2007 election dispute.
Mimiko, also attended Akeredolu’s birthday party in his home town, Owo, when he turned 60 years, recently.
The source added, “Mimiko would be comfortable with Akeredolu as Governor, than Olusola Oke, who has shown himself a political adversary from the beginning.“The thinking is that, with Akeredolu as Governor, Mimiko would not be persecuted after leaving office, on February 24 next year, while the Presidency would look the other way, despite the fact that he was the South-West Campaign Chairman of former President, Goodluck Jonathan, in 2015.’’
Moreover, the alleged deals that further fueled the perception that Mimiko deliberately “sold out” to the APC, in order to secure his political future, was Monday’s congratulation message, that the Governor released, despite the fact that the PDP had rejected the result, and has concluded plans to head to court.
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