At least eight political parties are set to align with the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a strategic move to improve their chances in the upcoming Ondo governorship election.
Sources confirmed to Punch on Monday that the smaller parties had reached an agreement over the weekend to support the two main parties.
Under the coordination agreement, the leaderships of these parties will direct their supporters to vote for either the APC or PDP candidate.
A formal announcement is expected within the next 72 hours, officials said, and party leaders are already mobilizing supporters in preparation for voting day.
“About eight of the smaller parties want to form an alliance with a larger party,” said an official who spoke to the platform. An alliance of these parties seeks to benefit from the proposed alliance.
“Many of them are in talks with the APC and PDP leadership and some agreements were signed last weekend and all of them will announce their affiliations by Friday.”
Another source said, “As the parties signed an agreement over the weekend, candidates from some political parties will resign immediately to either Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa (APC candidate) or Mr. Agboola Ajayi of the PDP. That is clear.” However, the terms of their agreement cannot be said for now, but the merger is expected to take place by Friday. ”
Also corroborating this development, APC insiders said that about five gubernatorial candidates will discontinue their political activities with their previous political parties and join the ruling party.
“About five of them (candidates) will join us by voting day. They want to destroy the regime with Aiyedatiwa and we are very happy about this development. You know. As you know, numbers are the name of the game in politics.” “We have a deputy governor candidate who is very supportive of us.His heart is not with the candidate again.He has been with the APC leadership for a long time. We are in talks with him and he is expected to join us on Wednesday.
“His candidates are also discussing with us at another level. Don’t be surprised if he joins us too. All these will be announced at the mega rally on Wednesday. All other political parties except PDP are in talks with us,” he said.
However, the person could not confirm that a financial agreement had been reached before the deal was signed.
APC media and public relations director Steve Otaroro said the defectors would be made public before Saturday’s elections.
Otaroro said: “It is true that some smaller parties are talking to us and we hope that they will join us, hopefully before Election Day. What they will introduce is Their entire system.”
A PDP leader in the state, speaking on condition of anonymity, condemned the move by smaller parties, saying the move was all for the financial gain of those who want to merge with the larger party.
“Some of them (small political parties) are also talking to the APC, just like they are talking to us. They are using us in negotiations and asking us how much they want to give us. The same goes for the highest bidder issue between APC and us. They also like it to be secret. They are still negotiating with us. ” said the chief.
Ondo PDP Public Relations Secretary, Kennedy Peretei, also confirmed the planned partnership, adding that the arrangement had been in the works for quite some time.
However, he did not confirm when the merger parties would make the declaration.
“We have been working on this plan for quite some time, but as of now we cannot give a date when it will take place,” a PDP spokesperson said.
At least 17 political parties will take part in the upcoming elections.
Political parties announced by INEC that have been granted eligibility to participate in the elections include the ruling All Progressives Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, Accord Party, Action Alliance, African Action Congress, African Democratic Congress, African Democratic Party, and All Progressives Grand Alliance.
Others include the Allied People’s Movement, Action People’s Party, Labor Party, New Nigeria People’s Party, National Rescue Movement, People’s Rescue Party, Social Democratic Party, Youth Party, Youth Progressive Party, and Zenith Labor Party.
