President Bola Tinubu has urged parties and stakeholders in Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo State to maintain peace while carrying out their civic duties.
The call is coming as the two leading parties in the poll – the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) intensify last minute unconventional methods to reach out to potential voters.
There are 2,053,061 registered voters across the 18 local governments in the state. Of this number, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) delivered 89,777 Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) while only 64,273 had collected their PVCs.
No fewer than 17 political parties are contesting the election but analysts have predicted a two-horse race between the APC and the PDP.
Incumbent Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the APC is fighting to retain his seat. He was deputy governor to the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu who died in December 2023.
Aiyedatiwa is currently serving out Akeredolu’s unfinished second and last tenure while seeking for a fresh mandate.
His main challenger, Agboola Ajayi of the PDP is not a first time contender. Like Aiyedatiwa, he was also a deputy governor to Akeredolu during the latter’s first term from 2016 to 2020.
Ajayi however parted ways with Akeredolu owing to political differences. He contested against Akeredolu in the Ondo 2020 governorship election on the platform of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) but lost to his former boss.
While the two former deputy governors still retain their links to the Aketi political family formed by their late former boss, Aiyedatiwa enjoys incumbency advantage over Ajayi.
Interestingly, the APC and the PDP candidates are both from oil bearing riverine communities in the Ondo South senatorial district.
While Aiyedatiwa, 59, hails from
Obe-Nla, in Ilaje local government area, Ajayi, 56, is from Kiribo Town in the Ese Odo local government area.
And while Aiyedatiwa’s local government holds the third highest voting strength among the 18 local governments in the state, Ajayi’s is one of the lowest in numerical strength.
The two candidates will be battling for votes from the Ondo Central senatorial district, the largest voting bloc with a numerical strength enough to shape the outcome of the election.
Amid last ditch efforts by the parties, President Tinubu has emphasised the need of a fair and democratic process that accurately reflects the will of the people.
In a statement on Friday by his Special Adviser (Information and Strategy), Bayo Onanuga, the President affirmed his commitment to free, fair and credible electoral process.
“President Tinubu anticipates a democratic process in the state that will genuinely reflect the people’s will and power to freely choose their leaders.”
“The President appreciates the assurances from the Inspector-General of Police and the Chief of Defence Staff that security operatives will act in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act to guarantee a credible electoral process,” the statement said.
The President reminded parties and their candidates that the mandate to govern comes from the people and must be respected. He stressed that safeguarding a free and fair election is crucial to the consolidation of Nigeria’s 25 years of democratic governance.
Tinubu said it’s in the interest of all Nigerians to ensure a peaceful and credible election in Ondo state and other parts of the country.
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