- 1.7 million voters to decide the fate of candidates in Ondo State governorship election
- 17 political parties cleared by INEC to participate
- All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Lucky Aiyedatiwa and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Agboola Ajayi emerge as top contenders
- Security operatives deployed to ensure peaceful elections
- Opposition parties express concerns over NURTW’s role in distributing election materials
The people of Ondo State are heading to the polls today to elect their next governor, with the APC and PDP emerging as the main contenders. The election has generated significant interest, with 1.7 million voters registered to participate. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cleared 17 political parties to contest in the election, with Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the APC and Agboola Ajayi of the PDP being the top candidates.
To ensure a peaceful and credible election, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has deployed over 22,000 security operatives to the state. However, opposition parties have raised concerns over the role of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in distributing election materials, citing potential bias towards the APC.
INEC has allayed these fears, stating that the commission only engages vehicles and drivers directly, not the NURTW union itself. The commission has also made arrangements to ensure the smooth conduct of the election, with all sensitive materials already distributed to local government areas.
Concerns Over NURTW’s Role:
- Opposition parties allege NURTW’s bias towards APC
- NURTW’s national president, MC Oluomo, accused of having political affiliations with APC
- INEC assures neutrality, citing Memorandum of Understanding with NURTW
As the people of Ondo State cast their votes, the outcome of this election will be crucial in determining the state’s future. Will the APC maintain its stronghold, or will the PDP emerge victorious? The answer lies in the hands of the voters.
