Editorial, PATH NEWS
Ahead of the November 16 Governorship Election in Ondo State, 17 political parties will be on the ballot paper of INEC. Ondo State people are free to exercise their franchise by voting for the candidate of his or her choice.
Going by the NEC records, 17 candidates have been screened for the Poll but in reality, two candidates seem to be fully ready to occupy Alagbaka Government House. They are the candidates of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Hon Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa and Hon Alfred Agboola Ajayi of the People Democratic Party (PDP).
The recent debate organized by the Channels TV narrowed the debate to these candidates, though, some candidates protested their exclusion from the debate but the fact still remains that, over 90 percent of this candidates are pretenders who are merely in the race to build CV.
The submission of the Channels TV might be right with the invitation extended to only APC and PDP Governorship Candidates respectively. Ask an average Ondo State people to name candidates in the race, the two names that will come to mind are Aiyedatiwa and Ajayi. How many people know the candidates of YPP, PRP, NNPP, ZLP and the likes?
Majority of the candidates are social media and Radio candidates that are privileged to be invited for a chat on radio once in a while. Some don’t even have an office or single poster or billboards in the state. Ask them, they will tell you, billboards don’t win election. How many local government, wards and units have they visited to canvass for votes and they want to win election. Even Mr Governor who answer the name LUCKY can’t rely on luck to win this election, that is why he has been campaigning from one local government to another.
Aside these two, other candidates that are making moves are the flag bearer of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Otunba Bamidele Akingboye, Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) Dr Abass Olushile Mimiko, Barr Olugbenga Edema of New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Barr Nehemiah Olusola Ebiseni of Labour Party (LP) and Babatunde Francis Alli of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP).
Wether contenders or pretenders, Ondo State voters will decide who becomes the next governor of Ondo State in 2025. Let’s take a look at the credentials of these candidates and their chances.
HON LUCKY ORIMISAN AIYEDATIWA (APC)
Aiyedatiwa was born on 12 January 1965, he hails from Obe-Nla, an oil-bearing community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
Lucky had his Primary education at Saint Peter’s UNA (now FAC) Primary School, Obe Nla/Obe Adun in Ilaje LGA of Ondo State between 1970 and 1976. He had his secondary education at Ikosi High School, Ketu, Lagos, in 1982. In 1986, he obtained Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) in Economics and Government from Lagos State College of Education (now Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education), Ijanikin, Lagos, he later attended University of Ibadan for Advanced Diploma in Business Administration in the year 2001. He became an alumnus of Lagos Business School – Pan Atlantic University, Lekki, Lagos where he obtained Post Graduate Certification in Chief Executive Education (CEP) in Business Management in 2009. In 2013, he obtained a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from University of Liverpool, United Kingdom.
He is the MD/CEO of Blue Wall Group of Companies which he established in 1996 which includes; Blue Wall Nigeria Ltd, a Trading Company, Blue Wall BDC Nigeria Ltd, a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) licensed foreign exchange trading company and Blue Wall Safety Travels and Tours, an IATA licensed Travel Agency and Logistic Company.
He joined active politics in 2011 as a card-carrying member of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) which later merged with other political parties and became All Progressive Congress (APC). He was one of the National Delegates from Ondo State at the All Progressive Congress (APC) National Convention at Abuja in 2014. He contested for the federal House of Representative for Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency in 2015 Presidential and National Assembly General Election.
He was the deputy Governor of Ondo State, Acting Governor and Substantive Governor of the state following the demise of his late Boss, Arakunrin Olowarotimi Akeredolu.
STRENGTH:
You can’t down play the power of incumbency both at the state and federal levels in this election. Governor Aiyedatiwa is in charge of the state resources and other logistics needed to win election.
The appointment of over 400 SSAs and SAs, Transition Committee at the 18 local governments and LCDAs is another victory strategy of the governor. The opposition that called this appointees Unit Canvassers know the implications of this appointment.
Again, APC as a Party is united more than before as many aggrieved leaders of the party mostly the aspirants that contested the primary with Aiyedatiwa have all come together and determined to deliver their various stronghold for the governor.
The opposition might said Aiyedatiwa in the last ten months in office has not achieved anything but the people of the state are in better position to agree or debunk the claims of the opposition. The N73,000 minimum wage, recruitment of 2000 teachers, employment of health workers, leaves bonus and promotions among others might give the governor votes.
While the opposition parties are losing their big guns to another party, APC has not loss notable gladiators in the party to the opposition.
Endorsement of the governor by different pressure groups, Unions, Associations, religion bodies, traditional rulers will have positive impact in the election.
The major weakness of Governor Aiyedatiwa in this election is the economic hardship that is biting the people and the opposition are using that to campaign, giving reasons why APC should be rejected.
Some civil servants who believe Governor Aiyedatiwa will pay the approved minimum wage before election might vote against him.
Another school of thoughts that also believe the ten months in office of the governor is wasted with nothing to show for it might pitch their tents with opposition.
Aside all these, a lot of things will determine the votes Governor Aiyedatiwa will garner in this election.
In the South where Aiyedatiwa comes from, he seems to have upper hands in Ilaje, definitely, that is no going Area for Ajayi and other candidates. The likes of Oke, Iji, Akinjo, Kekemeke and others will deliver for APC. Okitupupa, Odigbo, Ileoluji Oke-Igbo and Irele is another areas that APC will lead.
At the Centre, Akure South votes is a major determinant of who wins the Governorship Election. APC paraded who is who in the state capital. The money bag politician Barr Olumuyiwa Adu, SSG, Minister for Youth Olawande Wisdom, Abena, Omowunmi, Ademosu, Senator Adegbonmire, Hon Derin Adesida, Adegoroye among others are there to give the governor Victory.
The State Chairman of APC, Adetimehin, Allover, Akinwalire, Omotadowa, Akinnadeju, Akinyele, Akintelure, Princess Ajirotutu and others will slug it out with the deputy Governorship candidate of the PDP in Idanre. In Ondo West and East, the Campaign DG, Hon Abiola Makinde and Speaker, Olamide Oladiti would lead APC to victory.
In Akure North and Ifedore, Saka Ogunleye, Dele Ologunloluwa, Ologede, Alabi will hold these local government for the governor.
In the North, Hon Bunmi Tunji Ojo, Senator Ajayi Boroffice, Senator Jide Ipinsagba, Hon Ehindero, Hon Omole, Rt Hon Victor Olabimtan, Hon Gboyega Adefarati, Hon Ade Adeogun, Hon Felix Alonge, Assembly Members among others are big names that will deliver Akoko Axis for the governor.
In Owo and Ose, the deputy governor is from this axis and he will definitely deliver. The likes of Hon Timehin Adelegbe, Gbenga Ale, Femi Idris, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, Hon Ogunmolasuyi and others will team up with the Deputy Governor to give APC a resounding victory.
HON ALFRED AGBOOLA AJAYI (PDP)
On 21 June 2020, Ajayi resigned his membership from the ruling party All Progressives Congress (APC) and defected to the opposition party Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing irreconcilable differences between him and his governor, Rotimi Akeredolu. and that the APC party ‘has become a poisoned space’. He then joined Zenith Labour Party after losing the PDP gubernatorial primaries to Eyitayo Jegede. He was the 2020 gubernatorial candidate of Ondo State in Zenith Labour Party led by former governor Olusegun Mimiko.
Ajayi was born on 24 September 1968 to Chief Newton Ajayi and Mrs Rebecca Ogunjinte (née Olubusade). He hails from Kiribo Town of Western Apoi tribe in the Ese Odo ‘Local Government Area’ (LGA) of Ondo State. He attended Community High School in Kiribo Town and later moved to Methodist High School in Okitipupa LGA. He then went on to study Law degree at Igbinedion University, Okada in Edo State and graduated with Bachelor of Law (LL.B) at 2nd Class Upper division; and subsequently received his Call to the bar in 2010 after graduating from the Nigerian Law School in Abuja.
He was a former Councilor, Chairman in Ese Odo, ex federal lawmaker representing ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency the the House of Representatives and a former Deputy Governor under Arakunrin Olowarotimi Akeredolu.
The strength of Ajayi in this election is the fact that Nigerians are groaning in pains, courtesy of the APC led government in the federal. This instrument of campaign will no doubt give PDP desires votes from the people of the state.
The deputy Governorship candidate of Ajayi is a serving Member of the House of Representatives from Idanre from Centre. Fessywest as popularly called is a strong politician from Idanre/Ifedore federal constituency and the PDP stands a better chance of winning these local governments ahead of APC. Could the like of Oguntodu, Oluwateru, Faboyede, Kemisola, Faro, Dairo give PDP the needed votes to win the election in the centre?
In the Southern Senatorial District, Ajayi is from Ese Odo, being his home front, he will definitely has an edge above Aiyedatiwa. Before now, South is PDP strong hold but the pendulum has changed as all big guns in the party have defected to APC.
In the North, considering the fact that PDP has three House of Assembly from Akoko Axis of the North, Ajayi might pull a surprise but the parameters that gave the three Honourable members victory might not speak for the PDP candidate.
Leading the weakness of PDP is the disunity among the party’s leaders after the primary. Ajayi was unable to unite aggrieved leaders which led to the defection of the like of Ebiseni, OBA, Akinjo to other parties. Aside, some notable leaders in the party have equally left, this will no doubt has negative effect on the volume of votes PDP ought to garner.
Election in this part of the world requires money and the opposition has accused the APC and its flag bearer of stock piling of money for vote buying. If this is the situation of things, does Ajayi has resources to march other candidates in the race in terms of logistics? With the level of poverty in the land, money would play a major role.
Being an opposition is another disadvantage. No support from the federal, security agencies and other relevant bodies that will play certain roles in this election.
Aside the Candidates of APC and PDP, others candidates to look out for includes:
Otunba Bamidele Akingboye (OBA)- SDP
OBA as popularly called is a serial Governorship Candidate in Ondo State and not new to the political terrain of the state. He is a business man and industrialists. He is from Okitupupa axis of the South. His vision is to become the next governor of Ondo State under the platform of the Social Democratic Party. Having lost the ticket of PDP to Alfred Agboola Ajayi, he moved to the SDP. His chances of winning the election is very slim. Aside the fat purse of OBA, he is not a candidate well known to the people of the state.
Barr Olugbenga Edema – NNPP
This candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party is a member of the APC where he contested in the party’s primary; not satisfied with the process that gave the incumbent governor victory, Edema, a Barrister left APC to Kwankwanso political party -NNPP. His highest appointment is a commissioner in the board of NDDC, aside being a former Chairman of OSOPADEC among other public engagement. Edema is not sure of winning his unit or ward ler alone local government in the South where he comes from. In the Centre and North, it is still the same as Edema name is not as popular like the APC and PDP candidates.
Dr Abass Olushile Mimiko -ZLP
He is the younger brother of the former governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko. He is a first timer who is determined to change the political narrative of the state. His seven points agenda are eyes catching which captures all the needs of the people. He is the only Muslim Governorship candidate with strong belief of unseating Governor Aiyedatiwa in the November 16 Governorship Election. He chances is very slim, winning his polling units is going to be a big tasks. It is not certain if Mimiko will win Ondo his country home let alone other local governments.
Barr Nehemiah Olusola Ebiseni -LP
He is a vocal lawyer, experienced politician, former commissioner, former Afenifere Secretary and Strong member of the PDP before pitching his tents with the Labor Party.
Ebiseni is not a new comer as far as Governorship Election is concern. Yes, Labour Party was strong under Dr Olusegun Mimiko, can you say the same today? Who and who are backing Ebiseni in this contest? He might probably be in the race to make a point and such point has been made with his name in the register of INEC as candidate in the November 16 Governorship Election in Ondo State.
Comrade Babatunde Francis Alli -PRP
This is a comrade candidate of the PRP. He is articulate, vocal with well spelt out manifestos that will shape Ondo State. BFA as called is from the South, where virtually all the candidates in the race came from. His chances of winning his unit is very very slim let’s alone winning the election.
As the state count down to November 16 Governorship Election, the power to choose lies with the electorates and they must either choose wisely or settle for cash. Whichever ways, INEC will probably announce the winner on the 17th of November , 2024.
