As Ondo State readies for its off-cycle governorship election today, President Bola Tinubu yesterday, called on all political stakeholders and the electorate to uphold peace and decorum and fulfil their civic responsibilities without fear before or after the poll.
This is as in a last-minute change based on a court order, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) replaced the Labour Party candidate, Olusola Ebiseni with Dr Olorunfemi Ayodele Festus.
The President, in a statement issued by his Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said he anticipated a democratic process in the state that would genuinely reflect the people’s will and power to freely choose their leaders.
A total of 1, 757,205 residents of Ondo State are expected to head to the polls today to choose a governor who would rule the state for another four years.
Ondo is one of the eight states that conduct off-cycle governorship elections, which fall outside the usual general election and has successfully conducted it in 2012, 2016, and 2020, with the next one scheduled for November 16, 2024.
Specifically, 18 political parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), are on the ballot but 17 parties are fielding candidates in today’s poll.
They include the incumbent governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the APC; former deputy governor, Agboola Ajayi of the PDP, Olugbenga Edema of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP); Dr. Abbas Mimiko, younger brother of the former governor of the state, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko; Otitoloju Akinmurele of Young Progressives Party, among others.
However, there are only two main contestants and analysts have predicted the poll will largely be a two-horse race. The two parties are the ruling APC and PDP with Aiyedatiwa and Ajayi and both candidates have expressed their readiness for the election.
Interestingly, the winner would occupy Alagbaka Government House after the expiration of the current dispensation on February 25, 2025.
Furthermore, President Tinubu commended INEC for its diligent preparations for the election, particularly its timely distribution of sensitive materials across 18 local government areas in the state.
He also acknowledged the deployment of security men to maintain law and order and appreciated the assurances from the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa that the personnel will act professionally and adhere to the provisions of the Electoral Act to ensure a credible electoral process.
Tinubu reminded all political stakeholders, especially the candidates, that the people bestow the privilege to govern, and this right must be respected and not undermined.
He emphasised that it was in the best interest of all Nigerians to ensure a free and fair election and consolidate the nation’s over 25 years of democratic governance.
