The debate, themed, ‘2020 Ondo Governorship Election: Face the Voters’ was organised by media organisations, labour unions, civil societies, religious bodies and other critical stakeholders in the state.

The moderator of the debate, Akinwumi Abodunde, said that the four political parties were invited for the debate but while APC’s Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, PDP’s Eyitayo Jegede and Social Democratic Party’s Peter Fasua were present at the debate, Ajayi was absent.

He said “We invited candidate of APC, PDP, SDP and ZLP for this debate and none of the candidates showed any sign of not attending as at one hour to the programme. But only the candidate of APC and SDP – Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and Mr Peter Fasua respectively were present at the scheduled time,’’

Ajayi is also the ZLP’s governorship candidate in the state governorship election slated for October 10.

Mimiko, who is the immediate past governor of the state, spoke on Saturday in Ore, the headquarters of Odigbo Local Government Area of the state, during the party’s launch of the campaign for its candidate in the forthcoming governorship election.

The ex-governor also urged the electorate to collect the “stolen money” that some party had promised them and still vote for ZLP that would bring back good governance, the News Agency of Nigeria reported.

He urged the electorate not to fear or be intimidated by those threatening to unleash violence on the day of the election, saying, “We own this state together.”

Agboola defected from the APC to the PDP in June this year due to his running battle with his principal and governor of the state, Rotimi Akeredolu. He contested for the PDP governorship ticket but lost to Eyitayo Jegede.

Agboola confirmed his resignation in a statement released by his Special Assistant on Media, Allen Sowore. In the letter, he appreciated the national leadership and members of the party for their warm reception and acceptance in the short period he rejoined the party.

The statement said the decision is as a result of the people of Ogun state calling on him to aspire to govern the State. The Chairman of the PDP in Apoi Ward II of Ese-Odo Local Government Area, Festus Oboro acknowledged receipt of the resignation letter on the 9th of August, 2020.

Eyitayo won the party’s governorship primaries held at the International Culture and Events Center, the dome in Akure, the state capital on Wednesday, July 22.

He polled a total of 888 votes to defeat his closest rival and incumbent Deputy Governor of the state, Agboola Ajayi who garnered 657 votes.

With this development, Jegede will now battle the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and incumbent governor, Rotimi Akeredolu in the governorship election which is barely three months away.

Actions of the commissioner of police who was spotted having an argument with Ajayi at the government house gate has been linked to the Deputy Governor’s alleged defection plan which he (Police Commissioner) repeatedly mentioned in a viral video.

Sahara Reporters had alleged that Ajayi has decided to join the PDP to contest against Governor Akeredolu in the state governorship election scheduled to hold on October 10, 2020. It was reported that the deputy governor’s defection plan has created disaffection among top members of the APC and loyalists of Akeredolu, who have been pleading with Ajayi not to leave the party.