Ondo: Tinubu calls for free poll as voters elect gov

President Bola Tinubu yesterday asked  political stakeholders and voters to ensure a peaceful, orderly, and credible electoral process as Ondo State residents troop to the  polling centres today to pick their governor for the next four years.

A total of 1,793,914 registered voters have collected their cards to  be eligible for participation  in the election in which Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)  and Mr. Agboola Ajayi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  are the leading candidates.

Tinubu,in a statement in Abuja through his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy,  Bayo Onanuga, emphasised the importance of upholding democratic principles.

He urged all participants to respect the will of the people and approach the election with maturity and decorum.

The President encouraged citizens to exercise their voting rights without fear, both during and after the election.

He praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its prompt distribution of sensitive electoral materials to all the 18 local government areas in the state.

He also commended the Inspector-General of Police and the Chief of Defence Staff for deploying security personnel to ensure a safe voting environment.

“As the people of Ondo State prepare to choose their leader, it is crucial that we respect their right to decide their future. The privilege to govern comes from the people, and this must be honored by all candidates and political parties,” he said.

Tinubu reiterated his commitment to the consolidation of Nigeria’s democratic progress, which has spanned over 25 years and described credible elections as vital to the nation’s stability and growth.

He appealed to all Nigerians to see the Ondo election as an opportunity to strengthen democratic values and principles.

Security is tight across the state ahead of the election which appears to have been responsible for minimal pre-election violence,the only trouble being that recorded in Idanre Local Government Area, where seven members of the PDP were hospitalized after they were reportedly attacked by suspected thugs.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that 1,793,914 of the 2,053,061 registered voters in the state are eligible to vote today.

This figure is 315,454 more than the 1,478,460 that were eligible in the 2020 poll.

Sensitive materials for the election were distributed to the local government areas under heavy security and closely monitored by party agents.

Deployed for security duties today are 22, 239 policemen, 8,500 personnel from the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Correctional Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

Deputy Inspector General of Police, Abiodun Alabi who is in the state specifically for the election pledged that the security agencies would provide a level playing ground for all parties and their candidates.

The security agencies, according to him, would “ensure that all participants and other citizens comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act of 2020 as amended and other statute laws of the Federation.

“We will render all necessary assistance to INEC officials to facilitate the discharge of their responsibilities and provide adequate contingency plans to contain any crisis that may directly or indirectly arise before, during or after the conduct of the election.”

Alabi vowed that all arrested electoral offenders would be prosecuted.

There is restriction on all vehicular movements on roads, waterways, and other means of transportation between 6am to 6pm today.

Only those on essential services, such as ambulances, media officials, fire services, and other accredited media are exempted from the restriction.

This followed the judgement of the Court of Appeal which had struck out the judgement of the Federal High Court which ordered the commission to publish the name of Olusola Ebiseni as the party’s candidate.

It said: “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 Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD- West Africa) expressed fear yesterday that there might not be a high turnout of voters in today’s election as only 85.6 percent of registered voters collected permanent voters’ cards.

Chairman, CDD Election Analysis Centre, Prof Adele Jinadu Garuba, told reporters in Akure that voters in Ondo North and Ondo Central may not vote much as the two leading candidates –Aiyedatiwa and Ajayi- are from the same Ondo South zone.

Prof. Garuba noted that sentiments around certain politicians and individuals in the state would play a role on how the election would be won or lost.

Garuba said respondents in the group’s pre-assessment visit expressed fears of violence in Akure South, Owo, Idanre and Akoko South East.

He said candidates in the Ondo election weaponised information against each other and targeted key institutions like INEC.

“These attacks often exploit existing biases, fuelling division and distrust among the electorate,” he said.
“Voter apathy is dangerous for democracy. It leads to a lack of accountability, increased disillusionment and can allow resentment and insecurity to fester.”

Akeredolu family disowns brother’s endorsement of SDP candidate

The family of the late Ondo State governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, yesterday clarified their position on the reported endorsement of the Social Democratic Party candidate, Mr Bamidele Akingboye, by Olufemi Akeredolu.

They said no principal member of the family has endorsed the SDP candidate.

Head of the family, Professor Oluwole Akeredolu, said in a statement that Olufemi’s endorsement of Akingboye does not in any way represent the family’s position.

Said he: “For the avoidance of doubt, Professor Oluwole Akeredolu (the immediate younger brother of the recently departed Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu) is the head of the Akeredolu Family and solely authorised to speak on behalf of the Family. Neither he nor any of the principal members of the Family has declared support for the SDP. The Akeredolu Family has not declared any such support.

“We are not unaware of the activities of Olufemi Akeredolu (the youngest of the brothers of the immediate past Governor of Ondo State) and his association with the SDP. He is an adult, an individual with an inalienable right to freedom of association. He does not speak for the Family, neither is he authorised to do so.”