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Ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo State, Vice President Kashim Shettima, governors on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, national chairman of the party, Abdullai Ganduje and party stalwarts would on Wednesday (today) lead a ‘mega’ rally in support of the candidature of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
According to a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Felix Morka, the rally will be held at the MKO Abiola Democracy Park, Akure, Ondo State from 10am.
No fewer than 17 political parties will participate in the forthcoming election.
The parties cleared for the election, as released by INEC, include the ruling All Progressives Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, Accord Party, Action Alliance, African Action Congress, African Democratic Congress, African Democratic Party and All Progressives Grand Alliance.
Others are the Allied Peoples Movement, Action Peoples Party, Labour Party, New Nigeria Peoples Party, National Rescue Movement, Peoples Redemption Party, Social Democratic Party, Youth Party, Young Progressives Party and the Zenith Labour Party.
As campaign activities peak, the Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress again clashed on Tuesday over alleged plans to rig the governorship election.
The PDP, in a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Kennedy Peretei, alleged that the APC leadership planned to have some of its party members as presiding officers of the INEC for the election.
“The sinister plan by the Ondo APC ahead of the November 16 governorship election has been revealed. The training of Presiding Officers and Assistant Presiding Officers by the Independent National Electoral Commission is a prerequisite for recruiting such ad-hoc staff to function in these capacities.
“The party chairman has personally submitted a list of two persons who are APC members per polling unit to INEC to serve as Presiding Officers and Assistant Presiding Officers, even when these persons did not attend the training.
“The PDP Ondo State chapter wishes to alert the public that the APC is banking on compromising the election at all costs, having failed tragically to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people,” the PDP statement read.
However, the Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alex Kalejaiye, said the party had no reason to compromise the election, adding that the people of Ondo love the incumbent governor Aiyedatiwa.
Kalejaiye described the PDP allegation as untrue and baseless.
Kalejaiye said, “A series of projects have been cited, and we are implementing numerous measures to improve conditions for the people. We have campaigned across the 18 local government areas, and we are prepared. We have appealed to the people, and they have shown understanding and a willingness to support the party. Therefore, we have no reason to even consider compromising the election; it is simply not true. This is just one of those fabrications from the PDP.
“Tomorrow (today), we will hold our grand finale rally, gathering everyone, and we will send the same message of continuity. However, we will not go to the extent of doing anything unconstitutional just to win an election. We have done the work we set out to do, and we are confident that the people are with us. There is no reason to take any improper actions to secure a victory.”
‘Aiyedatiwa will win’
Tokunbo Ajasin, son of a former governor of old Ondo State, the late Chief Adekunle Ajasin, declared that Governor Aiyedatiwa would emerge victorious on Saturday.
Speaking with The PUNCH, Ajasin said twin factors – the lack of a strong opposition and the incumbent’s ability to provide “stomach infrastructure” would give the APC candidate victory.
Asked if the election was a two-horse race as touted in some quarters, Ajasin said no contest was visible, arguing that the PDP was divided and could not mount a formidable force to knock off Aiyedatiwa, whose party was also in power at the national level.
“I believe the incumbent will win. Really, there is no opposition. There is no strong opposition and the APC candidate is the incumbent,” Ajasin stated.
“The PDP is factionalised; they have not provided enough opposition to be able to knock off the incumbent.
“I am expressing the view of what I see. I do not see a two-horse race. There has been no opposition to APC as such, even throughout the country, except in the Edo election, where there was strong opposition as PDP was the incumbent government.
“PDP has not been up and doing. If it were the PDP of old, you could say there would be some contest, but I don’t see any here.
“Ordinarily, the performance of the APC at the national level could have some effect but you know the way things are, nobody looks at performance. It is about whether you can take care of stomach infrastructure. That is the state we are in.
“If you are not able to take care of stomach infrastructure, I don’t know how you will win. APC being in power will be able to do that sufficiently,” Ajasin added.
Oyebanji backs Ayedatiwa
While galvanising support for Aiyedatiwa, Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, called on Ekiti indigenes in Ondo to vote for the APC candidate in the November 16 election.
Oyebanji, who spoke in Akure on Tuesday during a solidarity rally, expressed confidence that Aiyedatiwa would win all the 18 Local Government Areas of the state in a landslide.
According to Oyebanji, “returning Aiyedatiwa as governor would be a confirmation of the fact that President Bola Tinubu is still highly loved, respected and recognised as our beloved leader in the Southwest.”
Oyebanji described Aiyedatiwa as the most prepared and fit candidate for the job and deserved to be elected to enable him to “continue with the good works.”
Ondo State APC chairman, Ade Adetimehin, who delivered Aiyedatiwa’s message on the occasion, expressed the Ondo governor’s appreciation to all Ekiti people for their support as he promised to reciprocate the gesture during the Ekiti governorship election in the next two years.
Atiku endorses Ajayi
A former Vice President and leader of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, on Tuesday rallied support for the Ondo PDP governorship candidate, Agboola Ajayi.
In a statement by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku urged PDP members in the state to mobilise overwhelmingly to ensure Ajayi emerged victorious.
He called on the people of Ondo to troop to their polling units in large numbers, adding that such would counter any plan to rig the election.
The former VP described the PDP candidate as a consummate politician who had what it took to improve the welfare of his people.
Atiku said he believed that the Ondo people would reject the continuity of an APC government, which had brought hardship to the nation.
Atiku cautioned electoral body INEC and other stakeholders against any act that could compromise a credible election, as he tasked Ondo residents with vigilance.
He said, “The governorship election that is coming up in Ondo State this Saturday presents an opportunity for the people of Ondo State to elevate the condition of the state into increased prosperity.
“The APC, as it has been made clear to everyone, is a grossly unpopular party which does not have the interest of the people as a core objective.
“The people of Ondo State have an opportunity in Hon. Ajayi of the PDP to tell the APC that enough is enough. As leaders of the party, we shall provide all necessary support to ensure that the APC is not allowed to repress the wishes of the electorate in this election.
“This is also a sound warning to all election management officials and volunteers that the PDP will stand firmly against any malpractice in the Ondo governorship election.”
Atiku added, “When the tide is high, it becomes too big to rig. The people of Ondo State are known for their forthrightness, and this particular election calls for eternal vigilance.
“This is also a sound warning to all election management officials and volunteers that the PDP will stand firmly against any malpractice in the Ondo governorship election.”
‘Election not war’
The Inter-Party Advisory Council has appealed to all stakeholders in the Ondo poll to allow peace before, during and after the election.
The group stressed the need for an environment where the voters should be allowed to perform their civic responsibilities without any hindrance.
The National Chairman of IPAC, Yusuf Dantalle, appealed on Tuesday at a stakeholders meeting in Akure, the state capital.
The meeting, which had leaders of all the political parties that would participate in the election in attendance, saw the IPAC chairman stress the need for all and sundry to play by the rules of the game.
Dantalle said, “Leadership should be selfless service to the people. If that is the case, no responsible leader would want to force himself or herself on the people. To the INEC and security agencies, we appeal to you to remain neutral and impartial.
“Ensure a level playing field for all political parties and candidates. Your roles are critical in maintaining the trust and confidence of the electorate. We need to see the neutrality of the respective institutions to promote our nascent democracy.
“To all stakeholders, let us remember, election is not war. It is simply an exercise in a democracy, where we choose leaders who will promote good governance, accountability, and development.”
He added, “As stakeholders, we must prioritize peace, equity, and justice. Let us work together to create an environment conducive to credible elections.
“To the voters in the state, we urge you to exercise your civic duty without hindrance. Vote for the candidates of your choice based on their manifesto, track record, and leadership qualities.
Reject any form of vote buying, as it undermines the integrity of our democracy.
“To the contestants, we urge you to know that the will of the electorates is sacrosanct and should be respected. The decision to choose leaders rests squarely on the shoulders of the people, and that is what makes democracy unique. Therefore, contestants in any election must resist the temptation to manipulate the process or attempt to force themselves on the people.”
Parties inspect materials
All the 17 political parties contesting the election will inspect INEC’s sensitive materials, which include ballot papers, Bimodal Voter Accreditation Systems, and result sheets, today.
On Monday, the Independent National Electoral Commission confirmed that it would deploy sensitive materials to the 18 Local Government Areas following their arrival in the state on Thursday.
In a statement posted on X, INEC stated, “Sensitive materials for the Ondo State Governorship election, scheduled for Saturday 16th November 2024 have arrived in Akure, the State capital, and received by officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“The materials were conveyed to Akure by the Nigeria Airforce. #OndoDecides2024.”
A top official in the commission, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the materials would undergo thorough checks on today, before being moved to the 18 LGs on Thursday.
“On Wednesday (today), the sensitive materials will be checked (by the parties). On Thursday, it would be moved to the LGs,” he said.
