- Account details collected weeks ahead
- Party earmarks N25,000 for each vote
- Parties wooing voters with cash, food items – Yiaga Africa
- CSOs, IPAC, Peace committee, others kick against vote-trading
- 2m voters to decide 17 candidates’ fate
- Aiyedatiwa, Ajayi in two-horse race
- How the candidates stand
As two million voters head to the ballot box, today, to decide who will be the next governor of Ondo State from a crowd of 17 candidates, many observers are worried over the role money will play.
There are concerns that vote-buying and selling will shape the exercise. Checks show that one of the parties has budgeted N25,000 to N30,000 to buy a vote in some “prime” locations.
To achieve this, it was further gathered that account details of potential voters had been collected. Comments among the people here in Ondo show the level they have lost confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process. They fear that their votes may not count. Only the money attraction may prevent unprecedented voter apathy.
Disturbed by the issue, a host of stakeholders have cautioned political parties, candidates and the citizenry against vote-trading.
Indeed, a front-line election monitoring group, Yiaga Africa, said some parties were wooing voters with cash and food items.
Those who have kicked against vote-trading and urged security agencies to be on guard against the festering menace include the Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar-led National Peace Committee; Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC; and a host of Civil Society Organisations, CSOs.
Battle of two Akeredolu’s former deputies
Today’s governorship election is going to be a fierce battle between two former deputy governors of the state, brothers and age long friends – Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress, APC; and Hon Alfred Agboola Ajayi of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.
The balloting across 3,933 polling units 203 wards, and 18 LGAs has panned out as battle between the two major political parties, APC and PDP with three other parties – Labour Party, LP; Social Democratic Party, SDP; and Zenith Labour Party, ZLP trailing behind.
Vote trading to attract voters, large turnout expected
Vote-trading, which has become a recurring decimal in the nation’s politics is one of the obstacles to the quest for free and fair elections.
It was learned that one of the parties has voted between N25,000 and N30,000 for each of the electorate that will vote for its candidate.
The desperation to win by all means coupled, high level of poverty and ignorance are reasons for vote buying and selling by the parties.
Findings by Saturday Vanguard showed that the turn out would be massive because of the inducements that the voters have been promised by the political parties. Some party leaders and aides to the governorship candidates were said to have stock-piled funds in their homes to buy votes on election day.
Findings showed that the candidates have perfected plans to mobilise funds to council areas where they are not popular to sway votes in their favour.
Account details submitted weeks ahead
Information gathered indicated that account details of voters had been collected before now in a bid to transfer money to voters after the election depending on who you voted for during the exercise.
Yiaga Africa, CUPP, IPAC raise alarm over vote-trading
The Head of Knowledge, Management and Learning, Yiaga Africa, Safiya Bichi, while presenting the groups pre- election assessment report, alleged that the major political parties, have resorted to inducing voters with cash gifts and food items.
She listed the council areas where cases were observed to include Akure South, Ese-Odo, Ifedore, Irele, Ondo East, Ose, and Owo.
According to her, leaders of political parties distributed fertilisers, rice, cassava, and maize to community leaders and tasked them to distribute them within their areas of influence.
Also, the Coalition of the United Political Parties, CUPP, described the issue of vote buying as a threat to democracy in Nigeria.
The Secretary of CUPP, Peter Ameh, said: “The phenomenon of vote buying has become a pervasive and troubling trend in Nigeria’s electoral landscape. Recent elections in Edo, Imo, 2023 general elections, and other states have highlighted the alarming extent to which some desperate politicians prioritise buying of votes over engaging in meaningful campaign.”
The National Chairman of IPAC, Yusuf Dantalle, at a stakeholders meeting in Akure, asked the electorate to reject any form of vote-buying because 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.”
Abubakar, Obi preach against vote trading
The Chairman of the National Peace Committee, Gen Abdulasalami Abubakar, rtd, and the 2023 Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Mr. Peter Obi, also preached against vote-trading today.
Abubakar said: “It remains the duty of Nigerian citizens to elect their leaders free from any inducements or prejudice. Political actors must also discontinue this menace of vote-trading.”
On his part, Obi, who was in the state to campaign for the party’s candidate, asked Ondo electorate to shun vote buying and selling because it’s money that they’ve stolen that they are using to buy votes. We must resist them.”
He explained that by jettisoning vote-trading, the electorate are on the path of resuscitating the country’s “suffering” democracy.
“We know democracy is suffering in Nigeria; we know they’ve turned democracy into transitional politics but we still insist that we continue to campaign and tell Nigerians that this is the time to start building a new Nigeria.”
Stakeholders want vote traders arrested, prosecuted
Meanwhile, stakeholders during a discussion ahead of the signing of the peace accord, unanimously agreed that vote buyers and sellers should be arrested and prosecuted to serve as deterrence to others.
They lamented that security personnel are the ones aiding and abetting the crime of vote buying and selling during elections.
43,157 security personnel deployed
To police today’s exercise, no fewer than 43,157 security personnel have been deployed to Ondo.
The Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbedokun, said a total of 43,157 security personnel comprising all security agencies will be available for the poll.
Of the number, the police deployed 34,757 personnel to polling units, wards and local government collation centres across the state.
Egbetokun deployed Mr Sylvester Alabi as the coordinating Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) for the Nov. 16 governorship election in Ondo State.
The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement, said that Alabi, the DIG in charge of Criminal Investigation Department, would oversee the implementation of the police security strategies to maintain law and order throughout the electoral period.
Also deployed are Mr Bennett Igweh, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 7 as AIG Elections in the state; Mr Tunji Disu, the Commissioner of Police (CP) in charge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) deployed as CP Elections in the state.
He said the deployments were part of comprehensive security measures to ensure a peaceful, transparent and credible process during the election.
According to him, as part of the security framework, there will be a restriction of all vehicular movements on roads, waterways and other means of transportation from 6:00am to 6:00pm on Election Day.
He said those on essential services, such as ambulances, media officials, fire services and other accredited media were exempted from the restriction.
“Furthermore, security aides and escorts attached to VIPs are banned from accompanying VIPs to polling booths and collation centres to prevent disruptions.
“Unauthorised security personnel and quasi-security agencies will not be permitted to operate during the election while strict ban on the use of sirens by unauthorised vehicles will be enforced.
“Special consideration will also be extended to individuals with disabilities, pregnant women, nursing mothers and those facing mobility challenges to ensure that polling stations remain accessible,” he said.
Major gladiators represent one zone
Governorship elections in Ondo, have always been keenly contested by gladiators. Interestingly the major candidates eyeing the coveted seat are all from Ondo South Senatorial District.
This is a result of a gentleman’s agreement and understanding by political parties that since the two former governors, Dr Olusegun Mimiko and the late Rotimi Akeredolu, hail from Ondoe Central and North respectively, the next governor should come from Ondo South for political balancing.
Politicians in Ondo South have consistently argued that it was their turn to produce the next governor. Their argument was that the North had produced the governor for 12 years, including Akeredolu and that the Central spent eight years under Olusegun Mimiko, while the South had six years under the departed Olusegun Agagu.
Zoning shut out other parts, competent personalities
Political analyst argued that the zoning arrangement by the political parties was unhealthy as other competent personalities from other zones were automatically shut out. They lamented that the arrangement has killed competition and made the exercise one-sided
17 political parties cleared but only four are visible
Of the 17 candidates cleared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, only five were visible during the campaigns.
The candidates, deputies
The gladiators and their deputies include the incumbent, Governor Aiyedatiwa of the APC. His running mate is Olayide Adelami, a former clerk of the National Assembly. Aiyedatiwa is from Ondo South while his deputy is from Owo in Ondo North.
Chief Agboola Ajayi of the PDP (Ondo South) has a serving National Assembly member, Festus Akingbaso, as running mate. Ajayi is from Kiribo in Ese- Odo, in the Southern senatorial district while his deputy is from ldanre, in the Central Senatorial district
The former Secretary General of the Pan Yoruba Socio-Political Group, Afenifere, Chief Olusola Ebiseni is contesting on the platform of the Labour Party. His deputy is a former commissioner, Dayo Awude. Ebiseni is from Ilaje, Ondo South, and Awude is from Ondo Central
A business mogul, Bamidele Akingboye is the candidate of the Social Democratic Party. His deputy, Mrs Susan Alabi, has since resigned and joined forces with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa
Bamidele is from Okitipupa, in Southern senatorial district while his deputy is from Ondo North.
Hon Olugbenga Edema is the candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP and his deputy is Rotimi Aderemi. Edema is from Ilaje, in Southern senatorial district while his deputy, Aderemi is from Central Senatorial district
2 million registered voters to decide who becomes governor
INEC has announced that 2 million registered voters will participate in the Saturday’s election
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, explained that 1.034 million males (50.36 per cent) and 1.019 million females (49.64 per cent) were registered for the election.
Babalola added that 726,944 (35.41 per cent) of the registered voters are youths, while 721,982 (35.17 per cent) are middle-aged.
How the candidates stand
Going into the race, Aiyedatiwa boosted by deep pocket, incumbency factor and ‘Federal might’ is considered as the front with an edge in 16 of the 18 LGAs unless the unexpected happens.
The 16 council areas likely to be won by the incumbent include, Ilaje, the four Akokos, Owo, Akure South, Akure North, lfedore, Ondo West, Ondo East, ile- Oluji/ Oke- lgbo, Odigbo and lrele.
His closest rival, Chief Ajayi of the PDP is seen to have an edge in Ese- Odo and ldanre LGAs.
Other candidates who are not visible in the state may struggle to win their polling units.
Of note is that the two major contestants, Aiyedatiwa and Ajayi, have many things in common. They both survived impeachment plot under the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu administration. While Ajayi is contesting for the coveted seat the second time, Aiyedatiwa is doing so for the first time.
Major backers of Aiyedatiwa in LGAs, senatorial districts
Northern senatorial districts
This consist of six council areas, Akoko North-East, Akoko North / west,Akoko South East, , Akoko South West, , Owo and Ose. Aiyedatiwa’s deputy candidate, Olayide Adelami hails from this zone.
Prominent party leaders that would work for the success of the governor in the council areas include, his deputy, Olayide Adelami who will deliver Owo.
Also, the former deputy governor, Alhaji Ali Olanusi; former Senator Ajayi Boroffice; House of Representatives member, Hon Gboyega Adefarati, former Speaker, Hon Victor Olabimtan;and other former National Assembly members, Hon Ade Adeogun, Hon Timilehin Adelegbe; the Minister of interior, Hon Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and members of the state of the House of Assembly. Members.of the state executive council, party executives, political appointees, would want continuity for Aiyedatiwa to preserve their daily bread.
Thus, Aiyedatiwa is expected to record a huge victory in Ondo North.
Ondo South as a battleground
This is the battleground, the five major candidates across the political parties hail from this zone.
The votes from the oil-rich zone will be shared but majority votes may go to the incumbent governor.
This zone is made up of lle Oluji Okeigbo, Odigbo, lrele, Okitipupa, llaje, and Ese Odo.
This zone used to be the stronghold of the PDP during the administration of the departed Dr Olusegun Agagu. But things have since changed.
Aiyedatiwa is from the oil-rich Ilaje LGA while Ajayi is from Ese- Odo.
The likes of Olusola Oke, Isaacs Kekemeke, Princess Oladunni Odu, lfe Oyedele, Jimi Odimayo, and Jimoh Ibrahim have since buried their ambition and joined Aiyedatiwa.
Also, the likes of Donald Ojogo, who is a member of the National Assembly, former Education Commissioner, Pastor Femi Agagu; Business mogul, Senator Jimoh lbrahim; former National Assembly members, Hon Mayowa Akinfolarin,Hon Albert Akintoye, Health commissioner, Dr Banji Ajaka, member of the Board of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), representing the state, Hon. Otito Atikase, members of the state executive council, and political appointees are expected to swing majority of the votes in the zone to Aiyedatiwa.
The votes from the zone will be divided but Aiyedatiwa may likely win in Ilaje while Àjayi may win his Ese- Odo council area.
Central Senatorial district
This zone is made up of Akure South, Akure North, lfedore, ldanre, Ondo West and Ondo East.
Those that will swing the votes to Aiyedatiwa in the zone include the former Minister of State for Niger-Delta Affairs, Tayo Alasoadura; a serving commissioner, Saka Ogunleye; and other notable political appointees such as the current Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Hon Tayo Oluwatuyi; former deputy governor, Hon Sunday Abegunde; former Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Bamidele Oloyelogun; and the state chairman of the party, Engineer Ade Adetimehin.
Also, the chairman of Aiyedatiwa campaign council, Abiola Makinde and former National Assembly members, Ayo Akinyelure and Tajudeen Adefisoye, are expected to garner votes for Aiyedatiwa in the zone.
From all Indications, Aiyedatiwa is expected to win in this zone with a wide margin.
Major backers of Ajayi in senatorial zones
Ondo South
Notable personalities that can influence the zone in favour of Ajayi in Ondo South include a former national vice chairman southwest of the party and now the chairman of his campaign council, Dr Eddy Olafeso, a former information commissioner, Hon John Ola Mafo, the former state chairman of the party, Tola Alabere and the state Publicity Secretary of the party, Hon Kennedy Peretei among others.
Ajayi may have a good outing in Odigbo council area of the state because it is populated by farmers who are non-indigenes from Oyo and Osun states. They always vote according to directives from ruling party in their state of origin. Both Oyo and Osun governors met with them last week.
Ondo North
The likes of the acting state chairman of the party, who was a former speaker, House of Assembly, Hon Bakita Bello; Tokunbo Modupe; Former Minority leader, House of Assembly, Rasheed Elegbeleye; Sadiq Obanoyen, and Otunba Oyewole Fasawe, will work assiduously to ensure that Ajayi wins this Saturday’s election.
Ondo Central
Personalities that will influence votes for Ajayi in the zone include the likes of the former deputy governor, Omolade Oluwateru, former state chairman of the party, Dr Tayo Dairo,
Also, Ajayi’s deputy, Festus Akingbaso, will try but may not spring any surprise in his ldanre hometown because of the likes of the state chairman of the party, Engineer, Ade Adetimehin and a former senator, Ayo Akinyelure, who would want to also make a statement by ensuring that Aiyedatiwa wins the council.
Aiyedatiwa’s strength, weakness
Incumbency factor, deep pocket, federal might and the backing of colleague APC governors are Aiyedatiwa’s strength in this Saturday’s election. His achievements in the last 10 months will equally speak for him.
Many party supporters will work to ensure his success to allow for continuity and to preserve their meal tickets.
The choice of his deputy, Olayide Adelami, is seen as a good political calculation to compensate the people of Owo, where the departed Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu hailed from. This is expected to garner votes for him in the zone.
Also, the unity within the party and for successfully wooing other governorship aspirants to his side is a major political calculation that will sway votes to his side. The likes of Olusola Oke, Princess Oladunni Odu, Wale Akinterinwa, Mayowa Akinfolarin, have joined his campaign train across the state.
Aiyedatiwa, also, has the backing of workers in the state. His agreement to pay N73,000 new minimum wage is a plus to him.
Aiyedatiwa’s weakness, according to sources, is that he is tight-fisted, not readily accessible and too meticulous.
Also, the hardship inflicted on Nigerians by the harsh economic policies of the President Bola Tinubu administration may deprive him of some votes as the electorate may decide to shun the poll on Saturday unless they are mobilised.
Ajayi’s strength and weakness
Ajayi is a grassroots politician. He has made many friends across the political parties. He served as a councillor, Chairman of Ese-Odo local government, and House of Representatives member before he became a deputy governor in 2016. He is humble, accessible and a giver.
His ability to win some of the governorship aspirants who contested the party’s primary with him is seen as an advantage. Ajayi’s excellent performance in the governorship debate organized by Channels Television may sway votes in his favour.
Weakness
His not-too-cordial relationship with leaders of the party in the state is seen as a minus to his chances.
Also, the defection of some high-profile politicians from the PDP to APC, is another big factor that is telling on the candidate. Aides to the former governor Olusegun Mimiko, have abandoned the party and joined Aiyedatiwa’s camp.
Although the candidate said their defection was inconsequential, to many, it is a big crack on the wall.
Vanguard
