Barely 35 days to the November 16 governorship election in Ondo state, all the political parties are yet to hit the ground with their political campaigns.
Political campaigns by the parties ought to have commenced since June 19, according to INECs timetable for the November 16 governorship election in the state.
While the opposition People’s Democratic Party in the state, has since appointed a former commissioner, Clement Faboyede, as the Campaign Director of the party’s governorship candidate, Chief Agboola Ajayi, the ruling party All Progressive Congress, has just named the House of Representatives member representing Ondo East/ Ondo West Federal Constituency, Abiola Makinde, as the Director General of the Governor lucky Aiyedatiwa, campaign organization.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has equally constituted a campaign council with Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, as the chairman.
The inauguration of the APC campaign committee has been shifted twice.
Findings showed that the Agboola Ajayi Campaign Organisation, has commenced subtle campaigns across the state, but has not fully embarked on a full-blown campaign.
The electorate across the state have become agitated by this development because campaigns by parties are expected to have commenced since June 19, going by the INEC timetable.
Political analyst who expressed concern over the the current inertia in the polity said it was an indication that the parties may be strategizing to engage in vote buying rather than waste time criss-crossing the state to campaign for votes.
Those interviewed described the development as worrisome and a minus to the nations nascent democracy.
Contacted on the delay in kick-starting it’s political campaigns, the Publicity Secretary of the opposition People’s Democratic Party, Hon Kennedy Peretei, said that ” We have started campaigns since 19th June, 2024. The only thing we did not do was an official flag off of the Campaigns.
The National and State Campaign Councils were inaugurated as well as various Local Government Campaign Committees. We adopted a strategy of reaching out to the individual voters who hold the aces on election day.
On the concern of the electorate and the believe that party may want to resort to vote buying, Peretei said “We don’t need to induce voters because they already know where shoes pinch them and are ready to change the tide for a better life.
” Financial inducement is the plan of those who have stolen from our treasury and use hunger as a weapon to garner votes.
“But I can assure you that this time, their plans will fail because the people are wiser now.”
Speaker for the ruling All Progressive Congress, it’s Publicity Secretary, Alex Kalejaye, said that “You know as much as I do that governorship campaign requires a lot of planning, strategy behind the scene. Committees will be put in place, stakeholders will look at all these. Interest will come and you will consider them before you finally release the list.
“The Ondo APC has gone through all these and the list is now ready to be released to the public and committee to start working immediately.
“So, that’s what has kept us, you know, capturing the various interest. You know, we have other governorship aspirants who were angry after the primary but we have successfully appealed to them and now, we need to capture their interests in whatever we do. This is partially also responsible for the delay we experienced but as I said, right now, the list is ready.
“We are set for campaign. We also have our plan to go around and campaign vigorously and decently across the 18 local government areas and all the wards. Once we start sailing, we won’t have any hindrance because everything has been sorted behind the scene.
“We have finalized our campaign timetable and everything that got to do with the campaign.
In a matter of hours or one or two days, we are flagging off the campaign. Once that is done, no stopping until we cover the length and breathe of the state.
“The APC has unbeatable structure in all the local government areas, wards and even the poling units. We have committees that have been canvassing for votes, we have committees that have been meeting people and telling them what government has done for the good people of Ondo State and why they need to renew the mandate given to us.
“So, this is where we are and if we’re doing all these, we have no reason to be contemplating buying of votes because it’s not part of our strategies and agenda.
“Our thinking is to continue to meet the people, to continue to showcase what we’ve done and why they should trust us with their votes come November 16.
“So, we’re working to continue to win people to our side, to continue to appeal to them to see reasons why APC should be the party. So, we’re no contemplating buying votes, it’s an allegation and it’s expected at a time like this.”
Meanwhile, the the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, while addressing newsmen on their preparation for the elections, said that 17 political parties will be participating in the governorship election.
Babalola noted that three of the parties will not be having agents at all levels of polling and collation during the exercise.
According to her ” After the closure of the portal for the upload of polling and collation agents for the Ondo State governorship election, out of 74,790 expected agents, the political parties contesting in the election only uploaded 24,148 agents to the portal, indicating that only 32.3% of the expected agents were nominated on the portal. 3 political parties have no agents at all levels of polling and collation.”
On vote buying, the REC said that “We are working assiduously with security operatives, and they have shown us tremendous support.
“Security personnel will be deployed across all polling units, collation centers, and strategic locations to prevent any form of electoral malpractice or violence
“In our Interagency Consultative Committee on Election Security, we have ICPC and EFCC. They have assured us that they have structures in place to prevent and arrest vote sellers and the buyers.”
he REC, noted that “a large percentage of non-sensitive materials required for the election have been received and deployed to the 18 Local Government Offices.
Babalola added that 58,708 new voters have been added to the commissions electoral register in preparation for the election.
“The updated voter statistics indicate that over 2,053,061 individuals will participate in the upcoming election.”
She added that “The breakdown includes more than 1,034,006 male voters, 1,019,055 female voters, 726,944 youths, 721,982 middle-aged individuals, and 441,516 elderly voters, along with 162,619 senior citizens and 1,782 persons with disabilities (PWDs).”
The REC, has however assured the people of the state that INEC is fully committed to conducting a credible, transparent, and inclusive election in Ondo State.
Peoplesmind