The Saturday, November 26th election in Ondo State is one of the most intriguing election in 2016 in Nigeria because of the peculiarity and numerous challenges faced by virtually all the gladiators involved in the election.
Let us examine the issues one by one, the raging storm first started in the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) where factions loyal to Former Lagos Boss, Senator Tinubu was played out of the ticket, this act almost tore the party apart, because the growing anxiety in the party seems to know no end.
Some of the loyalists later decamped to Alliance for Democracy (AD), the platform in which Mr. Olushola Oke rumored to be Tinubu’s candidate will run as governorship candidate. On the other hand, the main faction of APC who has the bulk of the controlling powers were able to win the ticket for Mr Rotimi Akeredolu.
Mr Akeredolu, is like a child who has been pampered and provided with everything needed in life while other kids have to fend for themselves, Mr. Akeredolu just like BUHARI, ran away from public debate which could have provided the Ondo people the great opportunity to know him better.
However, Mr Akeredolu maybe banking on the assurances of the ruling APC, that all meceneries will be handed to him for easy win at the poll, this may have necessitated why he shunned the debate and other public engagement.
For the main Opposition party PDP, it is unclear if the allegation that Former Borno State Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and his factional candidate of PDP were actually working for the ruling APC to scuttle the chances of the party at the Ondo Guber race, allegations were flying up and down to the extent that the court case has dragged beyond what one can actually explain.
There are two factions in the opposition party PDP, one is led by the Former Kaduna State Governor, Senator Ahmed Makarfi while the other led by Senator Sheriff.
Senator Sheriff held his Congress in Oyo State, and Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim emerged but Makarfi faction had their own in Ondo as stipulated by the party’s constitution, it was duly monitored by officials of INEC as required by electoral law which produced Mr. Eyitayo Jegede.
It was like a lost hope for the Makarfi faction when the case was being adjourned every time by the court and the election is very near but not final verdict in sight to their favor.
Other candidates were busy campaigning and making heavy political statements as it was sure for them to contest unlike the Jegede’s faction embroiled with court cases.
Akeredolu of APC, Oke of AD and Jimoh Ibrahim of one of the two factions of PDP who got favorable court injunction via Justice Abang of Federal High Court in Abuja were all visible everywhere campaigning and trying to woe electorates, the Ondo people were left with no choice than to choose amongst them, they were all contending on popularity.
Based on feelers, Olushola Oke and Akeredolu were swooping in massive popularity until the court of Appeal ruled on the 23rd of November 2016 that Sheriff’s faction of the PDP was constituted by fraud, nocking off his Candidate by barring Jimoh Ibrahim from parading himself as the candidate of PDP.
It was like a wildfire, the atmosphere in Ondo was agog with massive jubilation and singing of Eyitayo’s praises. Ondolites troupe out in great numbers to celebrate, one can visibly notice the sharp decline in the popularity of other candidates who had been swimming in massive attention of the Ondo people.
The Social Media went frenzy with numerous post via Facebook, Twitter and Whatsapp congratulating Eyitayo, people in Ondo were believed to be very angry with the whole process which almost prevented Mr. Eyitayo from standing in the election.
As it stands, it is looking like even the few days remaining to election may not have any negative impact on the victory of Eyitayo as the next Ondo State Governor because he is been projected to win the poll in a landslide owing to his great personality and unstoppable popularity. Although there are calls here and there for INEC to postpone the election which has not been granted as at the time of this article.
Adelaja Adeoye is a blogger, Socio and political commentator who writes from Lagos Nigeria. He Tweets Via @AdelajaAdeoye.