ONDO STATE GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION
The choice of the electorate should prevail
Although the build-up to tomorrow’s gubernatorial election in Ondo State has not been as nasty as that of Edo State held three months ago, the stakes are equally high even when the character of the contest appears markedly different. There are 17 political parties on the ballot, but it is basically a two-horse race between two candidates who are quite familiar with each other. The incumbent and ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Lucky Aiyedatiwa was deputy governor to the late Governor Rotimi Akeredola whose second term tenure he is completing. The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flagbearer, Agboola Ajayi was Akeredolu’s deputy during his first term. But the competition is intense with the campaigns laced with harsh rhetoric, hateful speeches and threats.
Meanwhile, since an ‘end justifies the means’ approach to politics has over the years provided the incentive and motivation for power seekers to believe that all is fair and acceptable in electoral politics, the success or failure of Ondo polls will depend largely on the capacity of the security agencies that must remain neutral throughout the entire process. We therefore urge the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun to ask his officers and men to stay above the fray by providing a level playing field for all parties and candidates. No less important also is the role of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as an impartial arbiter. Essentially because of the desperation by politicians, off-season elections that should ordinarily be easy to conduct are now marred by controversies. Instead of enhancing public trust and building confidence in the electoral system, they are now deepening the crisis of legitimacy.
Fortunately, INEC has had ample time to prepare and get its act together by ensuring that all logistical problems like late arrival of ballot papers and voting materials to polling centres are not repeated. Meanwhile, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Oluwatoyin Babalola, has dismissed allegations of partisanship against her. “In INEC, we relate with all political parties, I have been operating open-door policies to all and I don’t have any preferred candidate for the election,” she said while responding to the allegation. “I am not a member of any political party. In this election, we will ensure every vote counts and I promise, there won’t be any bias, the election will be free, fair and credible.”
It is noteworthy that all the participating 17 political parties and their candidates have signed a peace accord ahead of tomorrow’s election. The ceremony in Akure, the state capital, was organised by the National Peace Committee, headed by former Head of State, Abdulsalam Abubakar. “As you sign the peace accord, you should commit to its implementation and ensure your supporters at all levels comply,” said INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, who added that the commission had taken measures to address election day challenges, especially the perennial challenge of logistics. “In the case of Ondo state, this task is to be accomplished by boat in the two riverine local government areas of Ese Odo and Ilaje, and by a combination of trucks, four-wheel vehicles and motorcycles in respect of the mainland areas of the State” comprising 3,933 polling units, 203 Ward and 18 local government collation centres.
While INEC and the security agencies should be diligent in their responsibilities, the onus is still on politicians in the state to give peace a chance. At the end, the choice of who governs Ondo State for the next four years is that of the residents of the state to make. All stakeholders must therefore recognise the importance of holding a peaceful and credible election and above all to respect the choice of the electorate after the ballots are counted. May the best candidate win.
