Raise a hand if you know who authentic PDP candidate is

Ten days before the governorship election in Ondo State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is still torn between Eyitayo Jegede and Jimoh Ibrahim.

It’s the perfect recipe for how not to head to battle.

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise businessman Ibrahim as the Ondo governorship candidate.

In the ruling, Justice Okon Abang had reaffirmed his earlier declaration recognising Ali Modu Sheriff as the authentic Chairman of the PDP.

The Sheriff faction had produced Ibrahim as its candidate for the Ondo election.

The Ahmed Makarfi faction of the PDP put forward Jegede’s name.

ALSO READ: Jegede says he is close to retrieving his mandate from Jimoh Ibrahim

The PDP has said Ibrahim is not its candidate. The party has also described Ibrahim as an agent of destabilisation.

The party also claims Ibrahim isn’t a member of the PDP.

“Mr Jimoh Ibrahim is a verified non-member of the PDP at any level; ward, local government or state, having openly defected to the Accord Party”, said Banji Okunomo, Publicity Secretary of the PDP in Ondo.“Ibrahim’s intention is to destabilise the party…. he would fail and is only working for some fifth columnists outside the PDP.

“The intention of Jimoh Ibrahim and his sponsors is to put Ondo State under subjugation", Okunomo added.

Ibrahim has been campaigning as the PDP’s candidate for the election. He has promised to win the election for the PDP.

However, in yet another twist in the tale, Justice Ibrahim Salauwa of the Appeal Court granted Jegede leave to appeal the judgement of the Abuja High Court.

Jegede has promised to retrieve his mandate. He has also asked his supporters not to fret.

“I am very close to retrieving my governorship ticket from Jimoh Ibrahim”, Jegede promised his supporters recently.“I have submitted my grievances to the courts and despite the contrivance and manipulation by those who are opposed to democracy, we have been vindicated at the first step and God willing we will continue to trudge on,” Jegede added.

Appearing on the campaign trail with Sheriff, his opposite number, Ibrahim, reeled out a plethora of election promises.

“I will pay all backlog of salaries currently being owed by the state and restore light to those areas that have being in darkness for so many years, within my first hundred days in office”, said Ibrahim.

“I will create wealth and take your poverty away while the state shall take the first position in developmental stride during my administration”.

Factional Chairman of the PDP, Sheriff, says Ibrahim is “the authentic governorship candidate for Ondo”.

Except that Governors elected on the platform of the PDP, do not agree with him. The Governors have been campaigning for Jegede instead, leaving Ibrahim in the cold.

But it's Ibrahim's name that is on the ballot at the time of filing this.

PDP is torn between two national Chairmen. The party is also torn between two candidates on the eve of a major political battle.

Exactly what the Doctor didn't recommend.