As the countdown to Saturday’s pivotal Ondo State governorship election intensifies, Vice President Kashim Shettima, alongside top All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders and governors, is rallying in support of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s re-election bid.
The party’s national chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, and prominent APC figures gathered in Akure on Wednesday, November 13, for a grand ‘mega rally’ at the MKO Abiola Democracy Park to boost Aiyedatiwa's candidacy in a tight race featuring 17 other political parties.
According to the APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the rally marked the campaign's peak and reinforced the party’s push for continuity in Ondo.
Morka stated that “the people of Ondo deserve effective governance, and Aiyedatiwa is the right candidate to ensure continuity and progress.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) cleared several parties for the election, including the APC, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party, Social Democratic Party, and other major contenders.
While the APC is focused on its incumbent candidate, the PDP has voiced concerns over the integrity of the election process, alleging an attempt by APC officials to place party members in INEC roles as presiding officers.
In a statement, PDP’s Publicity Secretary, Kennedy Peretei, accused the APC of submitting a list of loyalists to act as polling officers, warning of potential bias in the electoral process. Peretei claimed that “the APC is determined to compromise the election, having failed to deliver substantial progress to the people of Ondo.”
APC’s spokesperson, Alex Kalejaiye, quickly dismissed the PDP's claims, stating that the APC’s solid track record and extensive grassroots campaigning would secure victory for Aiyedatiwa without any need for manipulation.
“We have visited all 18 local government areas, and the people have shown their support for Aiyedatiwa. The baseless allegations from the PDP are just distractions,” he said.
Prominent figures, including Tokunbo Ajasin, son of former Ondo Governor Adekunle Ajasin, expressed confidence in Aiyedatiwa’s re-election. Ajasin argued that the PDP was too divided to mount a formidable challenge, emphasizing the power of “stomach infrastructure” – a reference to the APC’s capacity to address immediate needs of the people, which he said would likely sway voters.
Similarly, Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji joined the rally, urging Ekiti indigenes in Ondo to vote for Aiyedatiwa. Oyebanji cited the importance of continuity, expressing that Aiyedatiwa’s victory would affirm the people’s loyalty to President Bola Tinubu’s leadership in the Southwest.
Meanwhile, PDP leader and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar rallied support for PDP candidate Agboola Ajayi, urging party loyalists to mobilize en masse to counter any attempts at rigging. Atiku described Ajayi as a seasoned politician committed to improving the welfare of Ondo residents.
With competing narratives of alleged interference and assertions of integrity, the Ondo governorship election is shaping up to be a contentious battle.
As voters head to the polls, the state will test both the resilience of its democratic institutions and the influence of party loyalty amidst accusations and fervent campaign efforts on all sides.