• 1.7million Eligible Voters To Decide Who Wins
By Abiola Olawale
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially commenced the voting process in various polling units in Ondo State.
This is as officials of the INEC began distributing materials to polling units in Ondo State on Saturday morning.
The New Diplomat reports that the accreditation of voters has already begun at numerous polling units, setting the stage as citizens prepare to cast their votes.
It was gathered that the atmosphere in Ondo State is charged with anticipation as voters eagerly lined up, ready to participate in electing the next Governor for the state.
Many eligible across all the 18 local government areas, 203 wards and the 3,933 polling units in the state have been trooping to their respective polling units to cast their vote for the candidate of their choice.
Ondo is one of the eight states that hold off-cycle governorship elections. According to INEC, there are 2,053,061 registered voters in the state but only 1,757,205 PVCs were collected.
Data from the INEC indicates that 18 governorship candidates will be participating in the election.
The candidates are: Falaiye Abraham Ajibola (A), Akinuli Fred Omolere (AA), Ajayi Adekunle Oluwaseyi (AAC), Nejo Adeyemi (ADC), Akinnodi Ayodeji Emmanuel (ADP), Aiyedatiwa Lucky Orimisan (APC), Popoola Olatunji Tunde (APGA), Ogunfeyimi Isaac Kolawole (APM), Fadoju Amos Babatunde (APP), Ebiseni Olusola Nehemiah (LP), Olugbemiga Omogbemi Edema (NNPP), Ajaunoko Funmilayo Jenyo (NRM), Ajayi Alfred Agboola (PDP), Alli Babatunde Francis (PRP), Akingboye Benson Bamidele (SDP), Adegoke Kehinde Paul (YP), Akinmurele John Otitoloju (YPP), Mimiko Olubansile Abbas (ZLP).
Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Agboola Ajayi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Abbas Mimiko of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) are expected to be the frontrunners in the ongoing election.
It would be recalled that Aiyedatiwa took over the mantle of leadership in the state following Akeredolu’s death in 2023.
The former deputy governor hails from Obe-Nla, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State. While Akeredolu was ill and battling cancer, Aiyedatiwa stepped in as Acting Governor.
In December 2023, Aiyedatiwa was sworn in as Ondo State governor following Akeredolu’s death.
Aiyedatiwa’s candidacy received a boost after three candidates, Ajibola Falaye of the Accord Party (AP), Jenyo Ataunoko of the National Rescue Movement (NRM) and Olaide Ibrahim, deputy gubernatorial candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made this announcement to withdraw from the race and support him.
On the other hand, Ajayi was the deputy governor to Akeredolu during his first tenure before their eventual fallout.
Following the fallout, Ajayi joined the Zenith Labour Party to contest in the last election but lost.
He later defected to the PDP and emerged as the party’s governorship candidate.
Also, Abbas Mimiko is the younger brother of the former Governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko. He is expected to ride on the wave of his elder brother.
