The crisis rocking the ruling All Progressives Congress in Ondo State shows no sign of abating as pro-APC groups under the auspices of Ondo Patriots have commenced mobilisation in support of the candidate of Social Democratic Party, Benson Akingboye, ahead of the November 16 governorship election in the state.
This is coming as the chieftains of the party in the state have warned the party’s National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, against setting the state on fire in a bid to favour the party’s candidate, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, in the governorship election.
The Coordinator of the group, Dele Oyewo, made this known in a petition titled: ‘Protest against Governor Aiyedatiwa and the party approach,’ which was addressed to Ganduje.
The group said its decision was due to the “questionable” emergence of Aiyedatiwa as the candidate of the party at the primaries conducted in April 2024.
It added, “The leadership of the various organising groups within the party structure in the state for the umpteenth time hereby re-emphasise that it is going to be almost impossible to work with the party and the governor in the November 16 gubernatorial election.
“But we discovered that the party leadership in Abuja is not in any way concerned about the wellbeing of citizens of Ondo State, rather they prefer their own choice of settlement over any form of resulting consequences.
“A prominent issue on the lips of many Nigerians as the Independent National Electoral Commission prepares for the Ondo State governorship election, which is just a few days away, is whether the electoral body will use the opportunity to redeem its battered image or not”
“The voices of people in Ondo State-appendages of the APC hereby condemn what it described as derailment and gross misconduct against the party ethics in line with the choice of Governor Aiyedatiwa if truly we are different from PDP and that we do to the latter what we preached before the 2015 general election.
“We, the major APC groups in Ondo State have decided to pick Otunba Benson Akingboye of the Social Democratic party as our choice.
“However silent mobilisation has been ongoing but we decided this time to inform our party because of the myriad of “I don’t care attitude” that the APC leadership in Abuja have been displaying to matters like this that concern the youth of Ondo State long before.”
“We cannot continue to die in silence and showcase total loyalty to the destiny wasters in our state. Otunba Benson Akingboye is more or less an APC family whose track and philosophy are similar to that of our dear President Tinubu.
“We are monitoring all the activities very closely from all quarters. We pray that in a bid to favour Governor Aiyedatiwa, some people will not set Ondo State on fire.
“Meanwhile, what would eventually remove Governor Aiyedatiwa from office is already cooking even when he is forcefully declared as the winner of the election. We have told our people not to waste their precious votes.”
The group warned Ganduje against setting the state on fire in a bid to favour Aiyedatiwa, in the November 16 governorship election in the state.
It accused Ganduje and the National Working Committee of APC of failing to address the issues around the primary election that produced Aiyedatiwa as a candidate for the election.
As the Ondo State governorship election approaches, the credibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission will face another litmus test.
A prominent issue on the lips of many Nigerians as the Independent National Electoral Commission prepares for the Ondo State governorship election, which is just a few days away, is whether the electoral body will use the opportunity to redeem its battered image or not.
Despite assurances from the electoral body, skepticism lingers over its ability to conduct a credible election. This doubt stems from its perceived failure to meet expectations in the 2023 general election, the previous off-cycle elections, particularly in Kogi, Imo, Bayelsa States, and the recent September 21 election in Edo State.
In these states, the commission’s record was worse as there were overwhelming cases of alleged malpractices at the polls.
Though the alleged malpractices truncated another dream of free and fair elections, the courts okayed the results of these states, except that of Edo that is still being contested.
In Edo State, the People’s Democratic Party alleged that the commission colluded with the All Progressives Congress to manipulate the process in favour of the APC candidate. It alleged inconsistencies in the results recorded at the polling units, the ones entered into Form EC8 and the ones uploaded by officials of the commission on its IReV.
The party also faulted INEC for failing to invoke its powers under Section 65 of the Electoral Act 2022 to review any declarations and returns where results were not declared voluntarily.
It is this baggage of distrust that the commission is carrying to Ondo State. INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, must realise that his reputation and integrity are at stake once again and must show that he has learnt from his mistakes.
Speaking last Monday in Akure while assessing the state of the commission’s readiness for the election, Yakubu said the commission would improve on two critical areas of logistics and results management in the election, adding that they have learnt some lessons not only from the last Edo State election but also from previous ones, and that correction would be made in the coming election.
Another thing Yakubu said that perhaps elated the people of the state, was that the commission is committed to ensuring a swift and transparent electoral process, which is crucial for maintaining public trust in the democratic system. He added crucially that the results of the poll could potentially be available on the same day. This has always been a challenge and gives room for manipulation.
In the same vein, the PDP in Ondo is demanding the redeployment of the REC, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola. In an open letter to Yakubu, signed by the party’s State Secretary, Oluseye Olujimi, the party said the REC had an alleged fraternity with leaders of the APC in the state and, therefore, unfit for the role of umpire in the election.
The party specifically stressed that Babalola was not qualified to be an umpire in the forthcoming governorship election in the state, because she has been a resident there for more than three decades.
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State resonated the call during a recent governorship campaign in the state.
But in its response, INEC, through the Chief Press Secretary to Yakubu, Rotimi Oyekanmi, rejected the request, saying that posting and redeployment of RECs were not influenced by political parties or partisan individuals.
He argued that nobody has come up with any genuine, incontrovertible evidence of criminal or unethical conduct against Babalola.
How the leading candidates, Aiyedatiwa, Ajayi stand
Basically, the people of the sunshine state are optimistic that the governorship election would be a catalyst to the speedy transformation of the state and ultimately free the people from evils of want, ignorance, social injustice and economic exploitation.
Ondo is one of the eight states that conduct off-cycle governorship elections, which fall outside the usual general election and has successfully conducted it in 2012, 2016, and 2020, with the next one scheduled for November 16, 2024.
Particularly, governorship elections in Ondo have always been highly contested with different dynamics coming into play including power of incumbency, financial muscle and federal might amongst others.
According to INEC, 18 political parties nominated candidates for the election. The final list of candidates published by INEC on June 14, 2024 included incumbent governor, Aiyedatiwa of the APC and Ajayi, a former deputy governor of the PDP.
Other governorship candidates with their deputies include – Accord Party, Ajibola Falaiye, deputy, Samuel lkuyajolu; Action Alliance, Omolere Akinuli, deputy, Oluwatosin Adeyemi; African Action Congress, Oluwaseyi Ajayi, deputy, Abiodun Lijofi; All Progressive Grand Alliance, Olatunji Popoola, deputy, Ayorinde Adedeji, and Allied Peoples Movement, lsaac Ogunfeyimi, deputy, Arowolo Afolabi.
Also in the contest are Action Peoples Party, Babatunde Fadoju, deputy, Olarewaju Ajagunna; African Democratic Congress, Adeyemi Nejo, deputy, Rasheed Ibrahim; New Nigeria People’s Party, Gbenga Edema; and Peoples Redemption Party, Babatunde Alli, deputy, Olusegun Famesa.
Not left out in the Saturday duel for who presides over the affairs of the state are; Young Progressives Party, Otitoloju Akinmurele, deputy, Ayodele Obe; Youth Party, Kehinde Adegoke, deputy, Otitoleke Olupitan; and Zenith Labour Party, Abbas Mimiko, deputy, Opeyemi Fadoju among others.
To further show the level of its preparedness, the National Chairman of INEC, Yakubu, had confirmed that sensitive materials for the election, including ballot papers and result sheets among others, would arrive on Tuesday, this week.
According to him, the materials would be inspected on Wednesday by political parties, observers, media, security agencies, and the Commission’s staff.
Yakubu, who also monitored the commission’s mock accreditation exercise on Wednesday, said it was a routine activity to further test functionality of the system.
Speaking shortly after the mock accreditation, Yakubu expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the mock election, especially with the equipment used for the exercise.
Also, on Thursday Yakubu during a Stakeholders’ meeting in Akure disclosed that the commission would deploy 3,554 observers for the poll.
Yakubu said the commission accredited 111 domestic and international organisations, over 100 radio, television, newspaper and online media organisations, comprising 700 personnel, including 129 female journalists.
The INEC boss who disclosed that about 2,053,061 registered voters from the 18 local government areas of the state would participate in the exercise, acknowledged the synergy with the security and law enforcement agencies, saying, “we underscored the importance of providing security during the election to guarantee personal safety and protection of observers, the media, and our own officials and, above all, the citizens that will vote during the election.
“To further show the level of its preparedness, the National Chairman of INEC, Yakubu, had confirmed that sensitive materials for the election, including ballot papers and result sheets among others, would arrive on Tuesday, this week”
For his part, the Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC in the state, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, during a meeting with members of all political parties in the state said the commission had recorded a total of 2,053,061 registered voters ahead of the poll.
Nevertheless, all the parties’ campaigns are approaching the last lap, and they’ve been wooing the electorates on why they are the messiah to take Ondo people to the promised land.
However, the election looks like a two-horse race between the political lieutenants of late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and other candidates. Both Aiyedatiwa and Agboola were at various times deputies to the late Akeredolu.
Lucky Aiyedatiwa
On December 27, 2023, Lucky Aiyedatiwa was sworn-in as governor of Ondo State following the death of his principal and former governor, Akeredolu and constitutionally, Aiyedatiwa stepped in to complete the joint tenure of late Akeredolu and himself by February 2025.
Ondo State Governor and candidate of the party, Aiyedatiwa said his administration’s interventions in the last 10 months justify his quest, noting that the party remains committed to building the Sunshine State if given the mandate.
In a bid to seek re-election, in April 2024, after the initial dispute that fraught the first round of the exercise, incumbent Aiyedatiwa, was declared winner of the governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress in the state, thus, became the standard bearer of the party for the forthcoming poll.
One of the Strengths of Lucky Aiyedatiwa is that he has the backing of the presidency, governors of the party and the national leadership to win the poll since he party is in power at the center so he will be availed of federal might which may weigh much in the contest.
Secondly, the power of incumbency from time immemorial has always been a nightmare for any arch rival. In other words, as an incumbent governor, he had enough resources to fund his election because it is widely believed that any aspirant who wishes to succeed in any contest, must have the wherewithal, party structure as well as proven integrity. So he has the treasury of the state and can deploy same in his favour
Choice of Deputy
The nomination of a deputy, Olayide Owolabi Adelami, former Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly, from the same Owo Local Government as late governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu was a smart move and might further boost his chances in the poll. Nominating a deputy from the zone of the late governor would be seen as adequate compensation to the zone and it may swing their votes.
Akeredolu’s goodwill
Besides, Aiyedatiwa had consistently declared that his late principal (Akeredolu) had always wished that he (Aiyedatiwa) succeeded him, thus, those who believe in spirituality see it as another strength ahead of the poll.
Also, public opinion showed that residents of the state are happy with the present development in the state and the achievements of Aiyedatiwa within 10 months in office, believing that the governor, has been performing wonderfully well like his predecessor (Akeredolu) and should be allowed to rule the state for another four years.
Corroborating these, Aiyedatiwa during the inauguration of the national campaign council of the party held in Akure, said his administration’s interventions in the last 10 months justify his quest, noting that the party remains committed to building the Sunshine State if given the mandate.
“Within the last 10 months we have deliberately focused on Infrastructural Development, Public Utilities Renewal, Agricultural Production increment, Entrepreneurship and Youth Development, Job Creation and Security. We have focused on strengthening governance institutions through fiscal discipline, improved healthcare, access to quality education and responsible citizenship. We have shown commitment to social welfare to alleviate the sufferings of our people.
We have deliberately created a stronger engagement with our women, too. We are concerned with leadership with integrity and character. We are not talking about our people, we are talking with them.
“Remarkably, within our 10 months in the saddle, we have activated the construction of not less than 70km of rural roads in order to provide access to our farm settlements and villages. This is in addition to the new 60km city based roads recently awarded alongside the ongoing roads, bridges and public building projects initiated and awarded by our administration.
“It is significant that our workers are happy and well-motivated as we pay their salaries regularly and promptly. We owe no kobo to workers, even as they enjoy their regular promotion. We have employed workers into critical sectors of the public service, such as health and Internal Revenue Service, while processes are at an advanced stage to recruit about 2,000 teachers for public primary and secondary schools.
We have supported not less than 500 youths with hundreds of million naira grants and loans as part of start-up kits for their entrepreneurial businesses.”
Poor party image
However, the belief by many residents of the state that APC Federal Government led by Bola Tinubu had plunged the country into economic hardship because of the party’s gross mismanagement of the economy at the centre could be the albatross of Aiyedatiwa.
In other words, people are naturally tired of APC because they believe that the name of the party and its members are synonymous to hardship, hunger, frustration and retrogression.
Also, coming from same area as Agboola Ajayi is a challenge for Aiyedatiwa’s candidature as they may divide the votes
Strengths of Agboola Ajayi of PDP
Agboola Ajayi, the candidate of PDP had served as a councilor, Chairman of Ese-Odo local government, and House of Representatives member before he was nominated by late governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) as his deputy governor in 2016.
Despite some concerns raised by the PDP, the political parties from all indications are good to go in the election.
Specifically, political pundits believe that despite the crisis in PDP, Agboola Ajayi might still win election because he’s a grassroots politician who knows how to knock on the doors of the common man.
During the direct primary election which led to his emergence as the standard bearer of PDP, he surprisingly polled a total of 264 votes to defeat six other aspirants. Notably, top chieftains of PDP didn’t support him in the primary but he still won.
He also listed his 7-key agenda for the state to include infrastructure, agriculture, health development amongst others.
“We will enhance the capacity of law enforcement agencies particularly Amotekun, Forest Guards, Vigilantes, and Traditional Hunters through advanced training and provision of appropriate equipment. With the cooperative engagement of traditional rulers, religious leaders, and other stakeholders implement community policing and neighborhood watch programs to improve public safety.
“Massively, we will produce food to immediately end hunger in the state by purchasing and distributing high yield seeds, seedlings and inputs to farmers. Increase and improve classrooms and other buildings for primary, secondary and tertiary institutions within the state. Free and compulsory education at the primary and junior secondary levels for all.
On health, Agboola said, his government will provide a primary health centre in each of the 203 wards in the state to be staffed by trained and dedicated medical personnel and provide essential drugs, hospital consumables and laboratory services to patients at affordable costs.
The voters in Ondo State will be convinced based on the manifestoes of the candidates, suggesting that other indices including party affiliation, financial wherewithal, vote buying among other factors outside the manifesto might influence the outcome of the election.
