As Ondo State elect their new governor today, about 2,053,061 registered voters from the 18 local government areas of the state will participate in the election. The people are optimistic that the governorship election would catalyse the state’s speedy transformation and ultimately free the people from 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. It has successfully conducted them in 2012, 2016, and 2020, with the next one happening today, November 16, 2024. Governorship elections in Ondo have always been highly contested, with different dynamics coming into play, including the power of incumbency, financial muscle, and federal might, amongst others.
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the election will take place in 3,933 polling units, 203 Ward and 18 LGA collation centres, and 18 political parties are participating in the election.
Out of these 18 political parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are considered the major contenders by analysts and political watchers of the state. The contest is believed to be between Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the APC and Agboola Ajayi of the PDP. And the two main running candidates are political lieutenants of late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
Lucky Aiyedatiwa
Strengths
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 (APC) in the state and, thus, became the standard bearer of the party for the forthcoming poll.
Federal Might/Governors
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 the party is in power at the centre 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 the 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 the 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) succeed him, thus, those who believe in spirituality see it as another strength ahead of the poll.
Track Record
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 suffering 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 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.”
Backing of Workers
“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 promotions. We have employed workers in critical sectors of the public service, such as health and Internal Revenue Service, while processes 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.”
Weaknesses
Poor Party Image
However, the belief by many residents of the state that the 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 with hardship, hunger, frustration and retrogression.
Same Senatorial Zone as Ajayi
Also, coming from the same area as Agboola Ajayi is a challenge for Aiyedatiwa’s candidature as they may divide the votes
Agboola Ajayi of PDP
Strengths
Agboola Ajayi, the candidate of PDP had served as a councillor, 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.
Grassroots Support
Specifically, political pundits believe that despite the crisis in PDP, Agboola Ajayi might still win the election because he’s a grassroots politician who knows how to knock on the doors of the common man.
Political weight
During the direct primary election which led 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 and health development amongst others.
Strong Agenda
“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 neighbourhood 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, Ajayi 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.”
Be as it may, there are no reasonable grounds to believe that voters will be convinced based on the manifestoes of the candidates, suggesting that other indices including party affiliation, financial wherewithal, and vote buying among other factors outside the manifesto might influence the outcome of the election.
