Tag: Agboola Ajayi

• I’m waiting for him to join me in moving Ondo forward – Gov. Aiyedatiwa

Barring any last-minute change of mind, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the November 16, 2024 Ondo State governorship election, Hon. Agboola Ajayi, is set to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Hon. Ajayi’s move follows his formal withdrawal of the appeal he filed at the Supreme Court challenging the outcome of the election.

He said the decision to withdraw his petition at the apex court came after wide consultations with his family, associates, party members, and legal advisers.

In a letter addressed to the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, the former deputy governor explained that the choice was guided by his commitment to peace and good governance.

“After careful deliberation, we have reached a consensus that the appeal should be withdrawn, and I hereby so do. Having served as deputy governor and legislator, my foremost commitment is to good governance and peaceful coexistence in Ondo State and Nigeria,” Hon. Ajayi stated.

Reacting, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa disclosed that Ajayi had already indicated his readiness to join the APC in support of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.

“In fact, Hon. Agboola Ajayi has told me personally that he is coming to join the APC. I am waiting for him so that we can work together to build a greater Ondo State,” Aiyedatiwa said on Channels TV.

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The governor further described the Supreme Court’s dismissal of all opposition petitions against his election as “a final seal on the mandate freely given to me by the people of Ondo State.”

Ajayi, who contested the 2024 governorship election alongside 14 other candidates, emerged as Aiyedatiwa’s closest rival, polling 117,845 votes against the APC candidate’s 366,781.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, dismissed petitions filed by the PDP, Social Democratic Party (SDP), and Allied People’s Movement (APM), bringing an end to months of post-election litigation.

 Political observers note that Ajayi’s anticipated defection, if finalized, could significantly reshape Ondo State’s political landscape ahead of future contests.

A former deputy governor of Ondo State and former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon Agboola Ajayi, has called on lawmakers in the Ondo State House of Assembly to amend the laws setting up the Ondo State Security Network codenamed Amotekun Corps.

 Ajayi said the amendment of the Amotekun law would enable the security outfit to accommodate Forest Guards as part of its effort to tackle insecurity.

The former deputy governor noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has proposed Forest Guards to check insecurity in the country.

He spoke in Akure at the 60th birthday celebration of a former minority leader of the state House of Assembly, Hon Rasheed Elegbeleye.

Ajayi stated that the primary duty of any government was the protection of lives and property and tasked Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to ensure the people of the state go about their lawful businesses without fear of being killed or kidnapped.

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He said the Forest Guards should be stationed in the forest with hunters and other security outfits to check heinous crimes across the state.

According to him, “The insecurity rate is not acceptable to citizens of Ondo State. The primary objective of every government is to protect lives and property. The Speaker and his colleagues should do everything possible to amend the existing law.

“I canvassed during our Governorship campaign in Ondo State for the need to have a unit known as the Forest Guard. I was particularly happy when I heard that the president spoke along those lines a few days ago. There is a need for a law that will equip the Forest Guard with sophisticated weapons. They should do it with the approval of the National Security Adviser.”

By Rasaq Ibrahim, Kiribo

The candidate of the People Democratic Party(PDP) in Ondo governorship poll Agboola Ajayi has cast his vote at Apoi Ward II, Unit 004 in Kiribo, Ese Odo local government area.

Agboola with wife arrived at the polling booth around 10:36 am and allowed to vote before others who were in the queue.

The couple was accredited at about 10: 45 am for voting and chatted briefly with voters before leaving the polling unit with his black Jeep. 

Speaking shortly after casting his vote, Agboola expressed displeasure over the conduct of the excercise, alleging gross irregularities in the ongoing governorship poll. 

He accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies of compromising the election in favour of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Agboola said that the preliminary report from across the 16 local  government areas has shown the election so far was far below the standard, asking the INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu to resign for conducting the most corrupt election in Nigeria’s political history. 

He described the exercise as not only a sham but also synchronised attempt to murder democratic process, alleging that the stronghold of  PDP chieftains were militarised to intimidate the voters from exercising their franchise. 

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He said: “If INEC cannot successfully organize election in just one state, then you must know that we are running into anarchy in Nigeria.

“I have been getting reports across the state and it is 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 tools 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 honorably resign because the system is totally compromised, this is sad. 

“Under Professor Attahiru Jega as INEC chairman, our electoral process was getting to that international standard but Professor Yakubu has drawn us back , this is sad and Nigerians are not happy.”

On the security situation, the PDP candidate said: ” From my community here it is peaceful but accused the military operatives deployment more men to his area and I would take it up with the brigade commander. They can’t be intimidating the voters.How do you station seven to 10 armed soldiers; we are not at war here !

” On the voters turn out, despite the intimidation, people were willing to vote because they are frustrated already with things in the state and the country.”

He expressed displeasure over the delay he experienced before he could vote due to BVAS malfunction, saying ” The system is not perfect, things are not working and it took more than 10 minutes before the BVAS could accredit me”.

Rasaq Ibrahim, Kiribo

Almost two hours after commencement of voting, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Agboola Ajayi is yet to cast his vote.

Agboola is expected to vote at his Apoi II, Unit 004, RCM at Idimado quarters Kiribo, Ese Odo local government area of Ondo state. 

As of 10:16 am, the PDP candidate is yet to arrive his polling unit to vote. 

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One of his security aides said Agboola is sleeping as he came in around 6am.

But an impeccable source close to the PDP flag bearer told our correspondent that Agboola was on his way preparing to leave to cast his vote.

“Very soon, Agbo will be on his way to cast his vote,” he said. 

Agboola’s kinsmen are at the unit waiting for the PDP governorship candidate’s arrival.

By Rasaq Ibrahim, Kiribo

Voting is underway at the polling unit of the governorship candidate of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Agboola Ajayi in Apoi Ward II, Unit 004, RCM, Idumado quarters Kiribo, Ese Odo council area of Ondo State.

Accreditation and voting started at 8:05am amid heavy security presence in the polling unit.

Officials of the Department of State Security Services, Nigeria Police Force, and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence were seen at the polling unit to ensure a violence-free election.]

Read Also: Towards a successful governorship poll in Ondo

Announcing the commencement of the exercise, the INEC Presiding Officer for the unit said the voting would end by 2:30 pm.

She read out the voting process in line with the electoral guidelines.

She also displayed the BVAS and empty ballot box while urging voters to adhere strictly to the rules and regulations.

The INEC officials arrived at the polling unit at 7:30 am.