By Dayo Johnson, Akure

FOLLOWING the emergence of the candidate of the All Progressive Congress APC in the governorship election in Ondo state,a group under the auspices of Ondo State Solidarity Congress (OSSC) yesterday called for the zoning of Deputy Governorship slot to Southern senatorial district area of the state.

The group’s position is hinged on the fact that both the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) have picked their candidates from Ondo North and Central Senatorial districts respectively.

The southern zone has three federal constituencies including Ilaje/Eseodo, Irele/ Okitipupa and Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo/Odigbo.

In a statement issued and signed by its Chairman, Chief Samuel Ikujuminu, the group said the slot should also be given to former members of PDP in the Southern Senatorial District who defected to APC before the 2015 general election.

The APC worked very hard for the development of the party in the senatorial district. You know that our zone has been the stronghold of the PDP but we have been working hard to develop the party in the zone.

He said: “If we are given the Deputy Governorship slot, we have the assurance that the APC will defeat the PDP in the forthcoming governorship election. It will help to break the rank of the PDP in the zone to give us advantage in the election.”

Ikujuminu said the APC should look towards the Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo axis of the district because of the voters’ turnout.

He noted the federal constituency has neither produced the Governor nor Deputy Governor since the beginning of the present political dispensation and giving them the slot would make them have a sense of belonging.