AS it stands, pending the time when the Court of Appeal in Abuja will come open with its judgement on Jegede’s suit, it is safe to say there are four Guber hopefuls in the three leading political parties. This is because it is too early to write off either Jimoh Ibrahim or his challenger, Eyitayo Jegede.
Thus a look at the candidates without any of these two at this time may not be comprehensive. For now, although there are more than ten aspirants in the race on the platforms of as much political parties, the race, analytically, is a three horse race among the candidates of the ruling PDP, the opposition APC and the emergent AD.
Rotimi Akeredolu
Although his candidacy is also being challenged by fellow party man, Olusegun Abraham, on the strength of alleged malpractices and discrepancies during the primary election that returned him, the former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, is not as troubled as his rivals in the ruling party.
Not a few pundits are throwing their weights behind Akeredolu to win the governorship contest. Their prediction is based on certain factors they say make him the man to beat this time around.
The APC candidate, it would be recalled, contested for the same seat in 2012, running against the incumbent Governor, Mimiko, and coincidentally, Oke, in a keenly contested election. Though he lost the race, many applauded Akeredolu’s feat, considering the fact that he was new in the politics of the state back then.
And Akeredolu seems to be very much aware of the permutations of this school of thought, “I can assure you that my chance is very bright. I’m not only assuring you of that but take my word; you will come back to congratulate me after the elections,” he said recently.
Also, Akeredolu, enjoying the supports of heavy weight politicians such as Tayo Alasoadura, Ade Adetimehin, Saka Yusuf Ogunleye and a former House of Representatives member, Ifedayo Abegunde, is expected to do well in the Central Senatorial District during the election.
One of the factors expected to swing votes in favour of the APC candidate is the expectation that the people of Ondo, having enjoyed the dividends of being in the ruling party at the centre with Mimiko’s defection to PDP two years ago, may vote Akeredolu to make them an APC state.
According to Deji Afolabi of Voters’ Right Agenda (VRA), “Ondo people as we speak are no longer comfortable with opposition politics, especially the type being offered by the PDP. The state, being a core progressive state, may decide to go with APC and thereby vote Akeredolu.”
The unending crisis within the PDP at the national level is another reason that may work in favour of Akeredolu. Ondo people may see voting for him as a way to escape the confusion in Mimiko’s current party. That much has been said by even the governor’s aides and political associates in recent times.
He is also expected to be a beneficiary of the Akoko Agenda, a struggle for the governorship by the Akoko people of northern Ondo, which has been popularized across the state for nearly a decade now. Consequently, he is seen as the man to beat in that zone.
Also, growing anger against the Mimiko-led PDP administration may also win votes for Akeredolu across the state. Many voters, according to reports, may decide against the return of the PDP and as such, vote for the opposition APC.
“This is really not about Akeredolu’s ability, it is about the desire of the people to seek a new beginning following what many see as the wasteful era of Mimiko and the ruling PDP,” Afolabi said.
In the view of Victor Adekanye Olabimtan, former Speaker, Ondo State House of Assembly, Mimiko’s lack lustre performance is a blessing for APC.
“Let me say expressly that the past seven years has been harrowing for the good people of Ondo State. I think the people of the state now know better that they have either by error of commission or omission allowed the mistake of 2007 to destroy Ondo State.
“The Ondo State of today is far worse than the Ondo State we had before the February 2009. It is a state that is wallowing in abject poverty. This government inherited a buoyant economy but today, the economy of the state is haemorrhaging and bleeding satanically,” he said.
However, the APC candidate will have to battle against some odds that may militate against his victory at the poll. Chief amongst this is the biting economic situation in the country. Many of the voters are not happy with the APC led federal government and may transfer the aggression to Akeredolu during the election.
“Our people are not fools. We are aware of how APC is ruling Nigeria. I don’t think that is what we want in Ondo” Lere Otitoju, Convener of Ondo New Era, told The Nation.
According to the rights activist, it is impossible for anyone to ignore the effect of the current economic recession on the people when analyzing the Ondo election. “The people don’t live in Mars: they live here in Nigeria and are conscious of what is going on around them. I don’t see how Akeredolu will explain this away,” he said.
Also the infighting within the APC is seen as another reason why Akeredolu may not find the contest easy. This is because many of those who contested the primary election with him are still aggrieved and are not part of his campaign train.
Abraham, for example, continues to insist that APC will lose the election with Akeredolu as its candidate. The party chieftain said the former NBA President cannot mobilise the people of Ondo state for the party.
Aside Abraham, Senator Ajayi Boroffice, another aspirant and frontline APC chieftain in the state, since losing the ticket to Akeredolu, has not been seen to be part of the party’s quest for the governorship seat.
“Abraham, Boroffice and their likes are the real leaders of the APC who will be on ground to canvass votes for the party on election day. The people we see behind Akeredolu today are Abuja people most of who are not even from Ondo State. This is a problem.
“Unless something magical happens to change the disposition of these known and respected APC leaders before the election, there is no way the internal schism in the APC will not affect Akeredolu’s chances,” a party leader said.
Eyitayo Jegede
In spite of his current travails, Jegede, according to some analysts, is still one of the leading candidates likely to emerge as the Governor of the state. All he needs to move close to the realization of his ambition today, is to have his name on INEC’s list as the candidate of the ruling PDP.
Following his emergence as the winner of the PDP primary election, the former Attorney General and his handlers wasted no time before garnering a new cult following across the state. Making smart use of the Mimiko political structure as well as state apparatus, the Jegede campaign group reached out and succeeded in selling his candidacy as what is needed to ensure the continuation of the Mimiko legacies.
Although he has been a commissioner in the state for a while now, Jegede as an individual is of no political clout in the state. His claim to fame largely depends on his emergence as the preferred candidate of the incumbent Governor, Mimiko.
Thus, one of the things working for him as the election draws closer, is the endorsement of Mimiko and his political family. Given the governor’s known political sagacity, many are cock sure that Jegede will be voted in as the next governor.
Few days back, in spite of rumours that he is already seeking an alternative to Jegede, Mimiko reiterated his belief that his former Attorney General will win the election against all odds.
“Let me repeat what I have said again, the injustice will not stand. Eyitayo Jegede will contest election on the platform of PDP. I’m talking as a leader of PDP in this state and also with what is on the ground in terms of what Eyitayo is bringing on board. I don’t have any doubt in my mind that Eyitayo Jegede will be the next governor of the state,” Mimiko said.
But his greatest asset is also being seen by some people as his main weakness. To some people, the fact that Jegede is the anointed of Mimiko is a problem. “Ondo people just don’t want a governor that will be tele-guided,” a source said.
Following his emergence as candidate, many critics of the Governor have described this as a ploy to fulfil a third term ambition by Mimiko. These, pundits say, may have a negative effect on Jegede’s performance during the November 26 election if he is eventually cleared to contest.
Another issue is the inability of Jegede to campaign well following his disqualification from the race. Many allies of the Governor insist there is a plan to stop him from reaching out to the people as part of plans to prevent his victory at the polls.
“We know Jegede will contest the election. He is the candidate to beat. That is why these people are struggling to stop his campaign. They don’t want him to get to the people and tell them what he has in stock,” an aide of the Governor said.
But Jegede insists that with or without campaigning across the state, he will win the election. According to him, the people are aware of his capabilities and as such, need not be reminded that he is the best man for the job.
Jimoh Ibrahim
Apart from being rumoured to have a heavy war chest to prosecute the governorship election, Jimoh Ibrahim boasts of little or no political antecedents in Ondo State that may position him to win the next governorship election
Today, Ibrahim’s advantage over Jegede is that his name is on INEC’s list as the PDP candidate. Aside that, many say he is no match politically for the former Attorney General of the state.
More so, his candidature is even being objected to by many of his party men who says, Jegede, and not Ibrahim, is the man they voted for at the primary election. As we speak, not many PDP stalwarts in the state are willing to work for Jimoh Ibrahim’s governorship dream.
Publicity Secretary of the PDP in the state, Banji Okunomo, said Ibrahim is not the party’s candidate for the November election as nothing will happen to the candidacy of Eyitayo Jegede.
Okunomo urged party supporters to disregard what he called “rampaging distortion of facts and misrepresentations” on the matter by a section of the party.
“We are also in the know of the syndicated report/newsflash which aims to misinform the public as regards the status of the true PDP candidate in the fast approaching gubernatorial election in the state.”
The publicity secretary assured that the party at state and national level, is working to ensure that Jegede’s candidacy remain. “We are therefore enjoined to remain calm, steadfast and resolute pending when the list would be officially released to the public,” Okunomo said.
Aside from the above, Ibrahim is not known to have a political structure that will help him achieve his ambition. This explains why not much has been heard about his campaign efforts ahead of the election.
“While other candidates were already moving across the state campaigning, Ibrahim was just busy recruiting people who will work in his campaign organization.
“His membership of the PDP is more in Abuja than in Ondo State. His entrance into the race is largely as a spoiler recruited by the Modu Sheriff faction of our troubled party,” a former Secretary of the party in the state said.
Olusola Oke
“Olusola Oke’s best chance to emerge the next governor of Ondo State is as a likely beneficiary of the rumblings between both the PDP and the APC. It will not come as a surprise if voters decide to go for him as a tested hand outside the feuding leading political parties.
