As the Ondo gubernatorial election continues, candidates and other party stakeholders have cast their votes and reacted differently to the election process. The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ajayi Agboola Ajayi, has scored the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) low in the conduct of the exercise.
According to the former deputy governor, he alleged that the slow pace of the election process was a gimmick to rig the election. One of the top contenders in the race, Agboola, cast his ballot in Kiriboin’s Apoi Ward 2, Polling Unit 004, Ese-Ado Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
“The system is not perfect; things are not working,” the PDP candidate said after voting. “It took them more than 10 minutes to capture me, who is the candidate of the PDP here. All of us are here. You can see the drama. There are a lot of complaints here and there.” He continued.
“If INEC cannot successfully organise an election in one state, then you must know that we are running into anarchy. I think it’s deliberate on the part of INEC and the part of the REC, and we have said severally that we don’t trust Barr. Oluwatoyin Babalola (REC). That this woman cannot be fair.
“The system is compromised, and I have had a series of calls today. People are complaining about vote buying, and the BVAS is not working. It is a very shameful exercise, and I think Nigerians should just call on the chairman of the electoral commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu. If you cannot do the job, please just honourably resign. He should resign. This is embarrassing. It [election] is totally compromised,” Agboola stated.
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who voted in the early hours of the day, described the election as peaceful and hailed the turnout of voters for the exercise, while he expressed confidence of winning the election. The incumbent governor cast his ballot at his Polling Unit 5, Ugbo Ward, 4 Obenla community in Ilaje Local Government Area of the state at around 8:50 am.
The governor said, “with what we have done for the last 10 months, the populace, the voters—like I said, they know who they want.”
“I believe I’m in an advantaged position to win this election because of the work that I have done in the last 10 months since I assumed office as the governor of the state. We traversed the entire 18 local governments and visited communities all across.”
He mentioned that the process in his community has been very peaceful and the turnout is very encouraging, asserting that he believes that the same situation would be at other locations across the state. According to him, security operatives deserve commendation for their role in the conduct of the election.
Although INEC on Friday included Ayo Olorunfemi’s name in the governorship election following a court verdict that asked for the replacement of Olusola Ebiseni, the LP candidate also cast his ballot at his polling unit in Unit 8, Ward 5, Ajowa-Akoko, Akoko North West Local Government Area of Ondo State. He was also optimistic about victory with little comment regarding the process.
The Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and Comedian Seyi Law have voted in the election taking place on Saturday. Tunji-Ojo cast his vote at Unit 17, Ward 3 Okeagbe, Akoko North West Local Government Area of the state in the early hours of the day.
