After weeks of intense campaigns, 1,757,205 eligible voters will today choose largely between the incumbent, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and his main opponent, former deputy governor Agboola Ajayi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a race that has 15 other candidates.
The Labour Party (LP), which was projected to be the third force, had a legal setback barely 24 hours before the election. Its candidate, Olusola Ebiseni, was replaced by Olorunfemi Ayodele Festus, whose name was first published as a candidate for the polls.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirmed the swap, saying it followed an appellate court order requiring the reversal.
In addition to Aiyedatiwa, Ajayi, and LP’s Festus, other candidates in the race are Akinuli Fred Omolere (AA), Ajayi Adekunle Oluwaseyi (AAC), Nejo Adeyemi (ADC), Akinnodi Ayodeji Emmanuel (ADP), Popoola Olatunji Tunde (APGA), and Ogunfeyimi Isaac Kolawole (APM).
Others are Fadoju Amos Babatunde (APP), Olugbenga Omogbemi Edema (NNPP), Ajaunoko Funmilayo Jenyo (NRM), Alli Babatunde Francis (PRP), Akingboye Benson Bamidele (SDP), Adegoke Kehinde Paul (YP); Akinmurele John Otitoloju (YPP), and Mimiko Olubamsile Abbas (ZLP).
This comes as President Bola Tinubu urged all political stakeholders and the electorate to uphold peace and decorum and fulfil their civic responsibilities without fear before or after the elections.
Meanwhile, LEADERSHIP Weekend can report that there was heavy presence of security operatives in the state as security personnel were seen in strategic areas of the state.
Not leaving anything to chance, however, LEADERSHIP Weekend gathered that governors of the two major parties, APC and PDP, arrived at Akure, the state capital, yesterday to give support to their party candidates.
For the APC, Lagos State governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu (the APC campaign chairman) and Benue State governor Hycinth Alia were spotted in the state.
Top sources told LEADERSHIP Weekend that no fewer than 16 APC governors were already in the state for the election.
For the opposition PDP, Oyo State governor Seyi Makinde and his Osun State counterpart, Senator Ademola Adeleke, are in the state to provide support for their candidate, Ajayi.
Meanwhile, INEC national commissioner Professor Kunle Ajayi has given assurance that election materials will arrive at all polling centres at 6am today.
Ajayi, who spoke on Channels TV’s programme, Politics Today, said all arrangements had been made for the election, even as expressed optimism that election will be free, fair, and inclusive.
He reiterated the commission’s non-partisan stand, saying INEC has neither a favourite candidate nor party.
Out of the over two million registered voters, 1,757,205 voters had collected their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) across the 203 electoral wards/registration areas and 3,933 polling units in 18 of the local government areas of the state.
LEADERSHIP gathered that no fewer than 295, 856 PVCs were uncollected.
On Thursday, INEC distributed sensitive materials to all the local government areas for onward distribution to Wards and polling units.
The electoral officer for Okitipupa, Mr Fakorede Adedayo, confirmed the arrival of sensitive materials ahead of today’s gubernatorial election.
LEADERSHIP reports that security was beefed up in the INEC offices in the state with officers deployed at key intersections and public spaces as a precautionary measure to ensure a peaceful electoral process.
There were patrols in marked vans through various neighbourhoods, signaling the readiness to respond to potential disruptions ahead of the election.
No fewer than 22,239 officers have been deployed to maintain security across the state before, during, and after the guber poll.
Tinubu Urges Stakeholders To Respect Democratic Process
President Tinubu urged all political stakeholders and the electorate to uphold peace and decorum and fulfil their civic responsibilities without fear before or after the elections.
Tinubu, in a statement by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga said he anticipates a democratic process in the state that will genuinely reflect the people’s will and power to choose their leaders freely.
The president commended INEC for its diligent preparations for the election, particularly its timely distribution of sensitive materials across all 18 local government areas in the state.
He also acknowledged the deployment of security men to maintain law and order. He appreciated the assurances from the Inspector-General of Police and the Chief of Defence Staff that the personnel would act professionally and adhere to the provisions of the Electoral Act to ensure a credible electoral process.
Tinubu reminded all political stakeholders, especially the candidates, that the people bestow the privilege to govern, and this right must be respected and not undermined.
He emphasised that it is in the best interest of all Nigerians to ensure a free and fair election and consolidate the over 25 years of democratic governance.
On the preparation of the security agencies for the poll, Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed that DIG Sylvester Alabi, had deployed CPs to head each of the local government areas of the state.
According to Alabi, adequate personnel have been deployed to all polling units.
“In addition to ground personnel, aerial patrols with police helicopters and waterway patrols by gunboats are also being carried out to ensure tight security across all terrains.
“As part of these security measures, the Force once again reiterates the ban on the use of siren, covered number plates, aides and escorts during the elections. Local, unauthorised and quasi-security agencies are once again warned to steer cleer, as violators would experience severe consequences and face the full wrath of the law.
“Restrictions on movement on the day of the election from 6am till 6pm remains valid, as members of the public are advised to make adequate preparations to this effect.
“Through collaborative efforts, we can assure the elections are held fairly and peacefully, free from any form of manipulation or interference, thereby safeguarding the integrity and legitimacy of the electoral outcomes,” he said.
Addressing journalists at the state headquarters of the formation in Akure, Ondo State capital on the preparedness of the formation for the election, the deputy commandant general in charge of operations, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ayuba Philips, disclosed that the Corps would dismiss from the service any officers of the formation found culpable of action seen to have compromised the process of the election
He warned all its officers to distance themselves from any form of action that could undermine the off-cycle gubernatorial election in the state.
CSOs express concerns
However, the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa) has raised concerns that there may be low turnout of voters despite 85.6% recorded in PVCs collection.
CDD led by Prof. Adele Jinadu and Dauda Garuba, director, CDD-West Africa, said: “As the election takes place tomorrow (today), CDD’s EAC notes some of the major issues that will shape the election and shares its worry that a possible outcome is low voter turnout and increased voter apathy.
“We hope that INEC’s voter sensitisation efforts, the various campaigns and the increased focus on the state will encourage citizens to come out and vote. We praise INEC’s conformity to its pre-determined schedule of events, and the release of necessary data and information prior to the election.”
It urged INEC to maintain proactive communication and make ample arrangements for effective logistics.
“In Ondo, candidates have weaponised information against each other, targeting not just their opponents, but also key institutions like INEC. These attacks often exploit existing biases, fuelling division and distrust among the electorate,” he said.
Also, a coalition of civil organisations, Nigeria Civil Society, has cautioned security agencies to caution their men and officers deployed to cover the off-cycle gubernatorial election in Ondo State not to intimidate the people with the show of force.
Reading the preliminary statement of the group at the Nigeria Civil Society Situation room at Alagbaka, Akure on Friday, Franklin Oloniju urged the security agents to be moderate in their show of force to avoid scaring the electorate from going out to exercise their civic right on Saturday.
He said: “While a high level of security deployment is essential to deter breach of electoral peace, the presence of security forces must not be seen as intimidating to voters. Excessive displays of force can contribute to an atmosphere of fear and suppress voter turnout.
“In past elections, we observed that security deployment has been uneven, with more officers concentrated in urban areas, leaving rural communities under-secured. The deployment must be evenly spread across both urban and rural areas and strategically to prevent possible disruptions.”
The group urged INEC to ensure early arrival of election materials and the safety of the same during the exercise.
According to Franklin, “INEC should ensure that polling units open on time, as any delay can disenfranchise voters and undermine the credibility of the process.
“The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) is expected to function optimally based on the report from the Mock test. INEC must ensure that the trained personnel are readily available to handle technical issues swiftly, ensuring that voters are not disenfranchised due to faulty equipment.”
He, however, noted that”Elections in Ondo State have previously been fraught with tension, but we remain hopeful that this governorship election will mark a departure from past fears and irregularities.
“We call on all stakeholders to abide by the provisions of the Electoral Act and INEC’s Guidelines to deliver a fair, inclusive and credible election. We also call on INEC and Security Agencies to ensure that observers have full access to the Collation Centres.
“The Situation Room and other independent observers are committed to ensuring that the will of Ondo voters is respected. We will continue to observe and report on the process to ensure accountability at every stage.”
Also, a civil society organisation, Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) on Friday raised security concerns in four local government areas of Ondo State in today’s governorship election .
In a pre-election conference in Akure, the state capital, the executive director of KDI, Bukola Idowu, said the local government areas are Akoko South-East, Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo, Ilaje and Ese-Odo, Idanre local governments.
Idowu said; “These are potential flashpoints that we think security agencies need to look into and have adequate deployment. And most especially, either processes must be intact and must be adequate and must be top-notch in those areas.
“We are watching to see how that preparation will translate to the actual execution on election day. And then we are looking at that in like about four major areas.
“We don’t expect any issue around violence, but we expect that post-election issue should be handled differently and professionally.
“What we are saying now is that the security agencies and all stakeholders need to find a means of handling it well.”
Idowu, who said that punitive measures should be put in place in addressing vote trading, noted that all the voter education to address the menace seemed to have not yielded meaningful results.
However, the leading political parties, APC and PDP, have expressed their commitment to a free, fair, and transparent election in today’s exercise.
APC’s director of publicity, Steve Otaloro, said, “The APC remains committed to a free, fair, and credible election. We urge the PDP to do the same and respect the democratic process. The people of Ondo State deserve better than baseless allegations and fear-mongering.”
His PDP counterpart, Kennedy Peretei, also committed to a free and fair election, adding that his party had already marked out its strategy to win.
Peretei said, “We are set for today’s election. And we had been gaining support ahead of the exercise. So, we are winning the election because our candidate, Agboola Ajayi, will be victorious.”
INEC Restores Festus As LP Candidate, Drops Ebiseni
Less than 24 hours to the Ondo state governorship election, INEC has restored Olorunfemi Ayodele Festus whose name was first published as the Labour Party (LP) candidate for the poll.
Consequently, INEC dropped Olusola Ebiseni, who was initially listed as the LP candidate, following an appellate court order which ordered the reversal.
The electoral body disclosed this in a post on its X (formerly Twitter) handle on Friday evening.
The post reads: “The Commission was yesterday 14th November 2024 served with the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgement of the Court of Appeal which set aside the judgement of the Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja Division.
“The FHC, in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1105/2024 had on 27th September 2024 ordered the Commission to accept Olusola Ebiseni as the candidate of the Labour Party for the 2024 Ondo State Governorship election.
“However, in the appeal with reference number CA/ABJ/CV/1172/2024 filed by the Labour Party, the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division struck out the judgement of the FHC for lack of jurisdiction.
“In obedience to the court order, the Commission has restored Olorunfemi Ayodele Festus, whose name was first published as the Labour Party candidate for the 2024 Ondo State Governorship election and uploaded same to our website for public information,” the commission said.
