The two leading candidates in the Ondo State governorship contest have offered different perspectives on the conduct of the Saturday, November 16, election. Both spoke after casting their votes at their polling units in their Local Government Areas. Their perspectives differ sharply, while one commends the conduct and process the other condemns it.

One sees the glass as half full while the other sees it as half empty. The election has been held, votes have been counted at the polling units and results announced. The results are now undergoing further tallying at the collation centres. The election which was held in 3,933 polling units across 18 LGAs with over 1.7 million who collected their PVCs has been adjudged to be peaceful with minimal human and coordination hiccups.

Ondo State Governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) expressed confidence that he would emerge victorious in the poll. Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa arrived at Ugbonla, Ilaje LCDA, to cast his vote at exactly 8:50 am amidst cheers from his kin and kin.

Ayedatiwa’s Perspective
Speaking with journalists after casting his vote, Aiyedatiwa commended officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission for arriving early at the various polling units with voting materials.

The governor believed the exercise was well coordinated, commending the electoral umpire for its efficiency, especially as observed in his ward. His words: “From what I have seen here today, the election is peaceful, and I have cast my vote. I commended INEC and security agencies for their composure. So, I’m urging the people of the state to come out and exercise their franchise in today’s election without any fear or favour,” he said.

Aiyedatiwa, expressed optimism that he would win the governorship election, saying that it would be a big celebration for his party at the end of the election. He premised his optimism on his performance in office in the last 10 months and the people’s love for him.

He said, “I believe with what we have done in the last 10 months, the voters know who they want, and I believe I am at a vantage position in this election because of the works that I have done in the last 10 months since I assumed office as governor of the state.

“We traversed the entire 18 local governments, and we visited communities. I want to say that I was the only candidate who covered the entire 18 local governments and visited major communities during the campaign period.
“I saw with my eyes, I felt the people, I listened to them, and I responded to their requests and their questions. They were always excited at my appearance, so because of the huge turnout during the campaigns, I believe they will translate that love into votes today. I have confidence that in the outcome of the election, I have an advantage based on performance, and I want to believe that victory will come my way.”

The governor hailed the early arrival of poll materials and officials and the timely commencement of the election in his unit, as well as the peaceful atmosphere. “Here in my unit and community, it has been calm and peaceful, and the turnout is very encouraging. I want to believe that the same situation will be at the other locations across the state. It is peaceful here; I think it should be peaceful in other locations.

“I want to commend the security agencies, the police, the NSCDC, and the military who are in the background. They are heavily deployed to be able to attend to any security threat. I believe the people will comport themselves. We are peaceful people in Ondo State. Ondo State has been adjudged to be one of the safest and most peaceful states in Nigeria.

“We have been having elections in a peaceful environment, and this very one will not be different. The citizens are law-abiding. Having been in the saddle for 10 months, this state has been very peaceful, and they know who and what they want.

“I believe the election will be very, very peaceful and credible. I went through the whole process of accreditation before casting my vote, and I believe the INEC officials will do the same at every location. So, I want to believe that it will be transparent, credible, and conclusive at the end of the day.

“But the information at my disposal now revealed that other locations also have materials, but I can’t speak of across the whole state yet. As we progress, we will begin to get more information.

“My message to the eligible voters is that they should go out en masse to vote and decide who will govern them for the next four years, and they should go out without any fear; the environment should be peaceful and calm; they should all come out and vote.”

Agboola Ajayi’s Perspective
“Things are not working. It takes them more than 10 minutes to capture me who is the candidate of the PDP… If INEC cannot [successfully] organize an election in one state, then you must know that we are running to anarchy.”

Agboola Ajayi candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of compromising Saturday’s election in the state.

Ajayi who spoke with newsmen shortly after voting at about 10:40 am in his polling unit 004, Apoi ward 2, Idumado Quarters, Kiribo Ese-Odo LGA, said the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Mahmood Yakubu has failed the people of the state and should resign from office.

The candidate who had a hectic time before being accredited by the BVAS machine, said reports from across the state suggested that the electoral umpire connived with the ruling party to frustrate the election.

He also raised concerns over the high level of security deployment to his community, saying that the presence of a combined team of police, military, and DSS operatives was not in the interest of the people.

Ajayi said, “ The system is not perfect, things are not working and it took more than 10 minutes before the BVAS could accredit me as the candidate of the PDP. There are lots of complaints here and there across the state.

“I have been getting reports across the state and it is the same, including me, I am a victim here in my unit and I want to say it is deliberate on the part of the REC and the INEC and don’t forget we have said earlier that we don’t trust Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola who is the REC; she can’t be fair.

“The system is compromised and there are complaints everywhere in the state including vote-buying, BVAS not working, and don’t forget the machine is a rigging tool for them. It is a very shameful exercise, and I think Nigerians should just call on INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu if he can’t do the job, he should honourably resign because the system is compromised, this is sad”.