I won’t relinquish my mandate, says Jimoh Ibrahim’s rival

Eyitayo Jegede, factional governorship candidate of the People Democratic Party (PDP), has vowed not to relinquish his mandate.

Appealing to his supporters to remain calm, Jegede said he would explore all legal options on his candidacy.

In the official list released on Thursday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced Jimoh Ibrahim as the Ondo PDP candidate.

Reacting through a statement issued on his behalf by Fasua Kayode, his spokesman, Jegede said he had gone to the court of appeal to upturn the decision.

He expressed optimism that justice would be done in the end, and urged his suporters to remain steadfast in the struggle.

“Jegede assured that he would not, for any reason, jettison the mandate freely given to him by the generality of PDP members in the state,” the statement read.

“He has not in any way abdicated the general consent given to him by the law-abiding members of the PDP to seek election into the office of the governor.”

Meanwhile, the Ondo state government has appealed to its people not to resort to self-help.

Reacting to the demonstrations witnessed earlier on Friday, Kayode Akinmade, commissioner of information, said steps were being taken to ensure there is no “miscarriage of justice”.

He appealed to the youth not to sacrifice their lives on the altar of politics.

“The Ondo state government has appealed for calm and peace over the conflicting pronouncements emanating from the courts and INEC on the gubernatorial candidates in respect of the forthcoming elections,” Akinmade said in a statement.

“The people should keep calm and not result to self-help.

“Steps are being taken to ensure that there is no miscarriage of justice… the will of the people shall be respected.

“Life and property should not be destroyed because any untoward reaction at this moment will only heightened the body polity.

“Human blood is too precious to be sacrificed on the altar of politics and politicking. The peace and tranquility which the state has enjoyed in the last seven and half years should not be truncated.”