By Damilare Adeleye
All eyes are on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies as over 2 millions eligible voters prepare for governorship poll in Ondo State, where a new executive governor will be elected to pilot the affairs of the state for another four years, Sparklight News reports.
The governorship election, which is slated to hold across the 18 local government areas in the state on November 16, 2024 , is less than 48 hours amidst apprehensions among political parties participating in the exercise.
According to INEC, seventeen (17) political parties have nominated candidates for the election.
The main candidates slugging it out in the poll include the incumbent Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and former deputy governor, Agboola Ajayi of the main opposition party, People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Other candidates are Dr Olusola Ebiseni of the Labour Party (sacked by court ), Akingboye Benson Bamidele of Social Democratic Party, Akinuli Fred Omolare (AA), Ajayi Adekunle Oluwaseyi (AAC), Akinnodi Ayodeji Emmanuel (ADP), Popoola Olatunji Tunde (APGA), Ogunfeyimi Isaac Kolawole (APM), Falaiye Abraham Ajibola (A), Fadoju Amos Babatunde (APP), Olugbenga Omogbemi Edema (NNPP), Alli Babatunde Francis (PRP), Akinmurele John Otitoloju (YPP), Adegoke Kehinde Paul (YP), Mimiko Olubansile Abbas (ZLP), and Nejo Adeyemi (ADC), who is a person with disability.
Notably, while there is no female contestant among the candidates, observers have hinted that the election is more or less a two-horse race between PDP and APC.
The flag-bearers of the both parties were former deputy to the immediate past Governor of the state, Romiti Akeredolu, who died while in office in December 2023 at the age of 67.
Agboola Ajayi of the PDP was Aiyedatiwa’s predecessor as deputy governor under the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu. His rift with Akeredolu alongside allegation of certificate forgery led to his replacement with Aiyedatiwa in 2020. Aiyedatiwa, who also survived impeachment, was subsequently sworn in as governor following the passing of Akeredolu.
Though APC holds sway of incumbent power both at the state and at the federal level, opposition parties particularly PDP, are hopefully to clinch the Ondo governorship seat.
Over 2 Million Voters To Decide Contenders’ Fate
In October when the INEC announced conclusion of its Continuous Voters Registration exercise, the electoral umpire said a total of 2,053,061 registered voters would participate in the forthcoming governorship poll.
Understandably, there are 3,933 polling units across the 203 wards in the states.
The state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, while speaking on the preparation for the election, said: “The INEC has concluded the Continuous Voter Registration exercise, which saw a significant increase in registered voters across the state. After the successful conclusion of the CVR exercise, 58,708 new voters were registered. In addition, 3,132 voters transferred their registrations into Ondo State while 123 voters transferred their registration out of Ondo State. The harmonised total number of new registered voters with the old registered voters is now 2,053,061.
“From the above information, it is well established that the registration exercise was inclusive, transparent, and accessible to all eligible citizens, including marginalised groups such as women, youth and persons with disabilities.
“As we await the commencement of the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards from the CVR exercise, we urge all registered voters in the previous registration exercise who are yet to collect their PVCs to do so, as this process is ongoing at our LGA offices. We shall simplify the collection process and establish PVC collection centres.”Similarly, the INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, during a quarterly consultative meeting with Civil Society Organisations in Abuja, also said that nearly 72 per cent of registered voters had collected their Permanent Voter Cards.
Election Concerns
Meanwhile, the cynosure of all eyes are on security agencies and INEC on how to prevent electoral irregularities during the Ondo election. Major concerns are potential vote buying and inducement by political parties, voter’s intimidation by state and non-state actors, misconduct of electoral officers, late arrival of election materials, among others.
These concerns were birthed as a result of the conduct of previous elections particularly the recent Edo governorship poll.
Before now, the Peoples Democratic Party has repeatedly made calls for the removal of Oluwatoyin Babalola as Ondo Resident Electoral Commissioner over her affinity and origin to the State.
The party asserted that Babalola was a bonafide resident of Ondo State with her family permanently domiciled at No. 3 Majekodunmi Street, Ijoka Area of Akure town, in Akure South.
However, PDP’s requests were declined by INEC with assurance that the REC would oversee the conduct of free and fair poll.
Security Deployment
Though the atmosphere has relatively been peaceful in Ondo since political campaigns, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, Inspector-General of Police, has ordered that over 22,239 personnel be deployed to provide security during the November 16 governorship election.
Similarly, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), also ordered the deployment of 6,000 officers to ensure maximum security ahead of the poll.
In the same vein, the Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Malam Shehu Mohammed, approved the deployment of 1,500 personnel and 25 patrol vehicles for the electoral exercise.
We’ll Be Transparent— REC Tells Stakeholders
Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, the Ondo Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), has assured electorates and stakeholders of transparency in the governorship election.
Babalola gave the assurance during the inspection of sensitive materials by major stakeholders at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Wednesday in Akure.
The REC, who said the sensitive materials would be distributed on Thursday, explained that the inspection of the sensitive materials was in a bid to show the transparency of the commission.
According to her, showing the stakeholders the sensitive materials shows that the commission is committed to deliver a free, fair and credible election.
“The reason we invited critical stakeholders such as security officers, political parties, observers, media, among others, to this inspection is to show transparency. You can see that they are well wrapped, nobody has tampered with them.
“When we come tomorrow (Thursday) for distribution, we will open them one Local Government (LG) at a time and give them to the electoral officers. We will start with the furthest LG so that they can get there on time. When they get to the LG, distribution to registration areas and polling units will start,” she said.