Acceptance Speech by Mr. Eyitayo Olayinka Jegede (SAN) after Declaration as Ondo State PDP Governorship Candidate in Akure, on July 22, 2020.

First of all, let me declare out loud, “To God be the glory, Great things he has done”, I truly thank God for the outcome of this election. A journey ordained by God, which commenced more than four years ago, can never fail and today it has taken another glorious dimension in the forward march towards Governor’s Office, Alagbaka, Akure, our ultimate destination. 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has once more demonstrated its panache in party unity, personal freedom and political advancement. All these qualities are made possible by the level of sophistry and love, obtainable in the PDP family. 

This governorship electoral committee comprising H.E. Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Chairman), H.E. Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, Barr. Mrs. Chidi Onyemelukwe, Emeka Etiaba, SAN and Alh. Mohammed Imam (Secretary) have done a sterling job to ensure that we all witnessed a free, fair, honest and transparent primary election. I also wish to thank INEC for their participation throughout this exercise as well as the members of the fourth estate of the realm. 

One thing must be taken into consideration in any contest, somebody must be declared the winner. But in the real sense of the word, all contestants for the top prize at stake of this family contest are winners. They are winners in the sense that, while a poster boy hoists the shield, that same shield is eventually shared in unison, by the family members. I cannot but appreciate the conviction of purpose on 

display, with which all my co-contestants pursued the dream of becoming the candidate of our great party in Ondo State. Which is why I’m commending the participation of other aspirants and compatriots. This victory at the primary election is a collective one and the choice is of the family. 

I want to thank all party faithful, friends of PDP and the general electorate of Ondo State for your support and encouragement which spurred me on to decide to run again for Governor and without which the last fifteen months thereabouts, of campaigning across the length and breadth of the 18 local governments of Ondo State would have otherwise been unsurmountable arduous and laborious. 

The contest amongst members of the PDP family goes far beyond the co-contestants who participated in this race. I know it involved the families and supporters of each aspirant, respected party Chieftains, loyal & dedicated party members and indeed friends and sympathizers of the PDP who have come to the realization that now is the appointed time for PDP to come to the rescue of the Sunshine State for the yearnings of good governance and dividends of democracy. 

By this vote of confidence in electing me as the Governorship Candidate of the PDP for the elections of October 2020, I humbly accept this call to service, but enjoin all of you to enter into my offer of partnership to work for victory at the Governorship Elections later this year. I cannot do it alone. I will be drawing from the support of my brothers (that is, co-contestants) in the task of liberating Ondo state from the shackles of the suffocating government of the Akeredolu-led APC government in Ondo State. 

We must ensure that we come together as one family, and harmonies ideas, resources and come together in love, to rescue Ondo State from its hiatus. My fellow contestants must be part of it, all party faithful must take ownership of this project regardless today’s result. 

In accepting this candidacy, I Eyitayo Olayinka Jegede, “serve Notice on the APC that for them the end has come” and solemnly assure you all that, with your collaboration and the special grace of God we shall record overwhelming victory in the governorship election coming up in October, and there will be accelerated progress in human development and socio-economic uplift throughout the state, without exception. 

Once again, I thank our abiding, loyal party members, and pray that our labour of love shall never be in vain. We must not fail Ondo State. 

Thank you all and God bless. 

Gbenga Akinmoyo 

Spokesman For EJCO