October 28, (THEWILL) – Political parties have begun effective mobilisation for participation in the November 16, 2024 governorship poll in Ondo State.
On Monday, the governing All Progressives Congress, APC, will constitute a 305-member council to drive the campaign in support of incumbent Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, flagbearer of the party in the forthcoming poll. Led by his Lagos counterpart, Babajide Sanwo-Olu as Chairman, the party’s National Campaign Council, according to its National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Argungu, will be composed of former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, who serves as secretary, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.
Argungu said, “The inauguration of the Ondo State National Gubernatorial Campaign Council will take place at the International Event Centre (The Dome) in Akure, Ondo State, on 28th October.
“The inclusion of high-profile political figures, such as Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Kwara Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, underscores the party’s commitment to consolidating its influence in the region.
“The team also comprises notable former officials, including Chief Olusola Oke, Senator Stella Oduah, Senator Uche Ekwunife, and General Abdulrahman Dambazau (Rtd), all of whom will play crucial roles in various campaign operations.”
Meanwhile, Governor Aiyedatiwa has promised to spread infrastructural projects to all parts of the state. The governor stated this during a campaign visit to many local governments, particularly Ifedore and Akoko South East and Akoko South-West Local Government Areas, during the weekend.
He made the pledge on even development of the state at the palace of Oba Akinsunloye Oyolola of Isua Akoko, saying that he would strengthen the state security network agency, known as Amotekun, to ensure the safety of lies and property, particularly those of farmers, if he is elected.
Also on the campaign trail, candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples’ Party, NNPP, Mr Gbenga Edema, has called to question the seriousness of Governor Aiyedatiwa, who he claims is yet to disclose any manifesto for the people.
According to Edema, “Governor Aiyedatiwa hasn’t said anything to the people. All they are doing is dancing on the podium. A campaign should be more than that. What does he have for the people in education, agriculture, security, healthcare and others?
“He hasn’t talked about all these at the campaigns, only dancing on the podium. So, people should ask him questions on what he wants to do in these sectors.”
Edema said his party’s style is more democratic than that of APC, considering his door-to-door campaign across the 18 local government areas of the state.
“Our style of campaign is more than dancing on the podiums; we are everywhere, in the state, engaging the people, what we want to do for them, and we have been having the feedback. The APC’s style of campaign has no feedback mechanisms. We are winning the election,” he said.
For the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the removal of the Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, is a major headache. According to the party, the REC must be remoed for the election to be fair and credible. The party has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of programming the poll’s outcome by posting Babalola, who is an indigene of Ondo, as REC. INEC denied the allegation and refused entreaties to repost her.
To pursue its claim, the party has addressed the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, accusing the Commission of taking a stand that cast doubt on the integrity of the election.
The INEC, however, said the party has failed to back its claim by any credible evidence of unethical or criminal acts against the REC in question and so would not redeploy her.
Insisting on its stand, the PDP maintains that though not an indigene by birth, Babalola qualifies to be classified as an indigene by virtue of having resided in Akure, the state capital, for more than 10 years with her parents.
In its letter addressed to the INEC chairman, the Ondo PDP’s Secretary, Mr Oluseye Olujimi, noted that Babalola was unqualified to be an umpire in the upcoming governorship poll in the State, “because she has been residing in Ondo State for more than three decades now, even up till this moment, with her parents and siblings at House Number 3, Majekodunmi Street, Ijoka Area of Akure Town.”
Olujimi said, “ For the umpteenth time, we are calling on you to, as a matter of urgency, replace the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs Toyin Babalola, appointed and posted to Ondo State by the INEC under your authority, with a non-partisan official with no previous association with Ondo State.
“We also counsel that you view this request with the seriousness and urgency it deserves for the preservation of our nation’s very fragile democracy and the restoration of public confidence in your Commission’s integrity.
“It has become expedient, that you act positively on the content of this letter, following a statement credited to your commission on Tuesday, 15 October, 2024, in direct reaction to the call by the Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, that the Ondo REC should be replaced. Governor Seyi Makinde’s warning that the PDP will continue to protest until its request is met, should not be taken as an empty threat.
“More so, since it is on record that the governor’s call of Tuesday was not the first time the party had made such a request. Our party, the Peoples Democratic Party, had earlier mentioned to you in a previous letter to your office, that the Ondo State Commissioner, Mrs Toyin Babalola is not morally and reasonably fit to supervise the governorship election fixed for November 16.
“Quite unfortunately, however, a statement credited to you on Tuesday, said the REC would not be removed because she is not from the state, even though you refused to mention her state of origin.
“A diligent check on the background of the REC would have revealed to you that, not only did she grow up in Ondo State, but also lives in her parents’ house which is at No. 3, Majekodunmi Street, Ijoka Area, Akure town, the state capital.
“Even if she were not of Ondo State origin by birth, the constitution of Nigeria makes it quite clear that anyone who has lived in a particular place for 10 years, statutorily qualifies for recognition as an indigene. Chairman, Sir, it is obvious that your office did not do a diligent check before issuing that unfortunate statement.
“That unfortunate omission on your part sadly gives the impression that INEC cares less, should the issue of the REC’s residency status and dubious integrity result in avoidable controversies and/or crises, that may fall out from any unwitting act of replicating in the upcoming Ondo State election, the controversial APC template so ignominiously used in the recent Edo State governorship election, the dust from which is yet to settle.”
In his reaction, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, reportedly said INEC would abide by its established policy for deploying and redeploying RECs.
Oyekanmi said the policy pays no consideration to political parties or partisan individuals, unless “there’s credible evidence of unethical or criminal conduct.”
He said, “The Independent National Electoral Commission deploys and redeploys Resident Electoral Commissioners based on its established policy, not on calls by political parties or partisan individuals, especially if such calls are not backed by any credible evidence of unethical or criminal act against the REC in question.” For that reason, REC Babalola would not be redeployed, he concluded.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
