The senator representing Ondo South Senatorial District, Nicholas Tofowomo, has refuted the insinuation that the Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was in disarray.

He described the internal wrangling within the party as mere political skirmish to outwit the PDP governorship candidate, Eyitayo Jegede’s camp, to produce Eddy Olafeso as the PDP National Vice Chairman, South West.

Tofowomo said this at a media parley with journalists in Akure yesterday, shedding more light on his political differences with Jegede, who was a co-commissioner in the Dr Olusegun Mimiko-led administration.

For the record, the incumbent Senator has been supporting the faction of the former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, against Jegede, who is loyal to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde’s faction.

The Senator recounted that he chose to support another PDP governorship candidate, Banji Okunomo, saying “He helped to raise money and he gave me time and his hotel.

“So, when Okunomo said he wanted to be a governor, I told Okunomo that even if it’s going to be one vote, I’ll give it to him, I’ll not support Jegede. That’s why I did not support Jegede.”

Aside that, he alleged that the PDP Presidential Candidate and former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, sent some money to all the candidates across the country but he was short-changed.

According to him, all PDP senatorial candidates were supposed to be given N10m each but he was given N2m to run for the election. He felt slighted by the roles played by the party leadership.

“After the election, as a party person, Jegede won the election that same night, I called him and I congratulated him. I told him, you have won now forget the past, let us work together.

“You have two senators, embrace us and let us move round and meet all the 15 governors, so that we can raise money. He said he will get back to me. He did not get in touch with me until after a month.”

Tofowomo added that he did not relent on efforts to deliver victory for the party, “I called him and told him that he’s not working as if he wants to win the election.

“I told him I’ll not gather all the leaders in Ondo South to his house in Akure to come and meet him. I said, he’ll have to come to Ile-Oluji, I’ll assemble all the leaders they will waiting there for him.

“Then he came to Ile-Oluji. He met all the leaders and I advised him that Ondo South fought for the election but unfortunately Ondo South was not organized.”

Shedding more light on how the South District lost the PDP guber ticket, he said told Jegede that “We had about eight aspirants and you’re the only one from the central and you have won.

“You ought to have been with us for the past one month, I’ll will give you an advise so that you can move on. Prostrate to these elders and let’s work together but he removed his cap and said he cannot, refused to prostrate for the elders.

“I told him that during my time, I prostrated across all the local governments and I won in all of the local governments. What he did infuriated the elders and they told him to his face that he would not win. They also also told him that his arrogance will cost him the election.”

On the choice of his deputy governorship candidate, Ikengboju Gboluga, the Senator said: “After that episode, I called him again about the issue of his running mate. He said I should not worry. I told him that I’m the political leader for Ondo South.

“If you are picking a candidate from Ondo South, I should be part of it. Then, he went to leaders that they should go and work together in order to appointment a deputy governor, but he decieved them. He has already made up his mind who is running mate would be.

“In Ondo South, we are very formidable, strong and focus. Ondo South got angry that he chose the wrong candidate. How can you choose someone who is still in the House of Reps and not even spend up to two years. That was a very wrong decision.That means he chose somebody from his team.”

To consolidate on the strength of the party in the district to win, he noted that “He should have appealed to Ajayi who came second or Eddy Olafeso who came third. They should have come together and present a candidate.

“He said that’s way he wants it. People later got angry and left the party. 80 percent of leaders moved to ZLP. That election sent a message to Jegede himself. His running mate lost in his local government, ward and the 66 wards in Ondo South.”