By OLA AJAYI & DAYO JOHNSON

IBADAN—CONTRARY to reports, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the Southwest has said it will not form alliance with any party in the forthcoming Ondo State governorship election.

The party, through its Zonal Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kayode Babade, said it would  sponsor a candidate to contest the election with other parties. This was made known after the party’s Zonal Exco meeting in Ibadan,weekend.

He said: “PDP is well grounded enough in all the states of the federation to be able to contest any election and win, and Ondo State will not be an exemption.

”Therefore, our members and supporters in Ondo State should not be dissuaded by anyone claiming that PDP will be supporting the candidate of another party.”

On crisis that has divided the party in states across the South-West zone, Babade assured that all grievances would soon be resolved and all frayed nerves calmed.

He said: “On the crisis in Ondo State, for instance, the National Secretary of the party, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, is inviting eight persons from each of the two contending groups for reconciliation and harmonisation of the state Exco soon.

”On Oyo State, the National Vice-Chairman, Chief Segun Oni, will be meeting leaders of the party where all issues will be finally laid to rest. Also, there will be meetings with some selected leaders of the party from Lagos and Osun states very soon.”

Mimiko warns trouble makers
Meantime, ahead of the October governorship election, Governor Olusegun Mimiko, weekend, warned trouble makers to steer clear of the state as the election  would be conducted under a peaceful atmosphere.

Mimiko gave the warning while addressing Labour Party members and supporters at the defection of over 3, 800 erstwhile members of opposition political parties in the state to the ruling party in Ijare and Idanre towns.

Speaking at Ijare town in Ifedore Local Government Area, Mimiko assured residents of the state that the government would collaborate with relevant security agencies to ensure all forms of violence were curtailed.

The governor pledged to ensure that on-going development efforts of his administration were spread to all the nooks and crannies of the state notwithstanding the campaign of calumny against his government.