Ondo 2016: Trouble in Ondo PDP as Makarfi, Sheriff sell governorship forms

The struggle for the control of the Peoples Democratic Party between the Ali Modu Sheriff and Ahmed Makarfi factions is taking its toll on the party in Ondo State ahead of its governorship primary scheduled for August 22.

Both factions are selling nomination and expression of interest forms to the aspirants, each claiming to be the authentic leadership of the party.

Six aspirants have so far expressed their interest to seek the governorship ticket on the platform of the PDP, namely former Justice Commissioner, Eyitayo Jegede; former Environment Commissioner, Sola Ebiseni; and former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Bamiduro Dada.

Three of them, until recently, served in Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s cabinet, but had to resign to pursue their ambitions.

Other aspirants include business mogul, Jimoh Ibrahim; Niran Sule and Saka Lawal.

While Messrs. Jegede and Lawal obtained forms from the Ahmed Makarfi faction, Messrs Ibrahim, Sule, Ebiseni and Dada obtained theirs from the Modu Sheriff faction.

Messrs. Ebiseni and Dada said they pitched their camp with Mr. Sheriff because they consider him the authentic chairman of the party in the face of the law.

Mr. Dada said he was joining the governorship race as a result of the need to liberate the state.