The Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State has explained why it picked a former commissioner in the state, Prince John Ola Mafo as a running mate to its
governorship standard-bearer, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN).
The party noted that having considered some key party members, it found that Mafo had an edge over the others during the selection process.
Speaking on Adaba FM radio station in Akure, the party’s Director of Publicity, Mr. Ayo Fadaka, said the emergence of Mafo from the Ilaje ethnic stock in the South Senatorial district was the result of a careful selection, undertaken by the party leaders.
He said of Mafo: “He’s been a steadfast party member, he’s steadfast and capable, he has the psychological temperament that will complement our candidate and he is a loyal party member.”
He said it was normal for other party members to have shown interest in the position, but that the emergence of Mafo has come with widespread acceptance.
“It is not that the others who contested with him did not merit the exalted position, but the party elders considered some factors that gave him an edge.
“Nobody can say people like Johnson Ogunyemi, Mrs Banke Sutton, Mr. Ibine and others who showed interest in the position are not pre-eminently qualified. But there must have been an aspect in the issue, when put on table, that gave Mafo an edge.
He added that the party opted to pick its deputy governorship candidate from the South district because the incumbent and his immediate predecessor are from the North district, stressing that the North district would still have a fair share in the Eyitayo Jegede administration, once elected.
Speaking in the same vein during an interview, the party’s state publicity secretary, Mr. Banji Okunomo, said Mafo’s experience gave him an edge.
“He had been chairman, Ilaje Local Government, Commissioner for Youth and Sports and later Information, and currently, he is the Chairman of Ondo State Football Agency; and in all these capacities, he performed very well.