The Peoples Democratic Party, on Tuesday, presented Certificate of Return to its Ondo State governorship candidate,  Agboola Ajayi.

Ajayi, a former Ondo State deputy governor, won the Ondo PDP governorship primary held last Thursday.

While presenting the certificate to Ajayi at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja, the party’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, said the PDP primary was rancour-free unlike that of the ruling All Progressives Congress in Ondo.

Damagum said with the acrimony in the APC, the PDP was poised to win the November 16 governorship poll.

“It’s because of what we have put in place that has made this possible, During our stakeholders meeting, we agreed that all the aspirants must come from the South, and by the grace of God, that is what happened. This shows the preparedness of the party to take over Ondo State.

“Even from the last election we know that Ondo is PDP and from the stakeholders’ meeting and other engagements, we were able to come out with a single candidate.”

He advised Ajayi not to assume that all of his fellow aspirants had conceded to him.

Damagum stressed the significance of extending efforts to secure their support to ensure victory for the PDP in the state.

“You must work hard to make sure the PDP takes Ondo State, but we will have our stakeholders meeting in the South-West on Monday and work for the party. “

In his acceptance speech, Ajayi pledged wholehearted commitment to securing victory in the forthcoming election slated for November 16.

He said: “It is truly humbling, and I accept this responsibility and promise to carry out work towards winning the upcoming election with utmost dedication as we all embark on a new journey in service to our beloved Ondo State and our party the PDP.

“This election is a defining moment for us;  It is about all of us coming together to chart a new course for Ondo State.

“It is about embracing our collective vision and aspirations for a better, more prosperous future, it therefore cannot be about me alone.

“The forthcoming November 16 governorship election, presents us a unique opportunity to bring about real and sustainable development for the people of Ondo and the PDP, as the largest political party in Africa, is positioned to lead this transformational change.

“The challenges we face, from poverty to unemployment, insecurity and economic hardship require urgent and decisive action. We cannot afford to dwell on past mistakes or divisive rhetoric.

“Instead, we must focus on uniting to provide solutions that prioritize the well-being of our people and communities.

“Our vision for Ondo State is one of growth, opportunity, and equity. We envision a state where every child has access to quality education, where healthcare is affordable and accessible, and where infrastructure supports economic growth and connectivity.”