Tag: Ondo 2024

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said 3,132 voters have transferred their registration to Ondo State ahead of the November 16 governorship election holding in the state.

It said 123 voters transferred their registration out of Ondo State at the end of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise.

The electoral body said the harmonised new registered voters with the old registered voters made Ondo State to have 2,053,061 eligible voters.

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Ondo Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, who spoke at a news briefing on the level of preparedness for the governorship election, said the body had been working to ensure a hitch free, credible, free, fair, peaceful, transparent and inclusive election.

Babalola said 58,708 new voters were registered, adding that a large percentage of non-sensitive election materials had been deployed in the 18 local government offices.

She said 3,933 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) would be deployed in polling units, assuring citizens that polling units results would be transmitted directly to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for the November 16 election in Ondo State, Otunba Bamidele Akingboye, has unveiled the blueprint with which he would use to govern Ondo State.

Otunba Akingboye said the blueprint would transform the state economy, tackle insecurity and revitalise infrastructure across the state

Akingboye, who spoke in an interview in Akure, said the blueprint was drawn from his expertise at managing conglomerates across the Africa continent and beyond.

The SDP candidate said he would invest massively in the agricultural sector to tackle food shortage and bring donw high cost of living

He promised to build irrigation systems, storage facilities, and markets across the state.

On insecurity, Akingboye said he would ensure a robust security architecture is established to ensure safety of citizens and investors.

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He said he would Implement community policing initiatives to foster trust and cooperation between law enforcement and the public

His words: “My pledge to Ondo State people is that I will restore these companies to their former glory for the purpose of creating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and attracting investments.

“I will provide support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), recognizing their critical role in driving economic development.”

Ex-chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, Ebenezer Alabi, has resigned from the party.

He tendered his resignation letter to the party Chairman, Ward 11, Akure North Local Government.

Alabi said he took the decision after consultations with his family members, political associates, friends and followers on the state of affairs of the PDP in the state.

He said he could not continue to cohabit with “political leaders whose aim is to make financial fortunes at every cycle of election.”

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The letter said: “The large chunk of money sent for mobilisation during the past general elections ended up in the pockets of these leaders at the detriment of the party’s victory.

“Some of them found it easy to extort money from many aspirants during primary elections and ended up allocating delegates’ votes to them in the proportion of amounts coerced to cough out. The overall success of the party is none of their concern, inasmuch as their personal aggrandisement is satisfied.”

Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, an engineer, has urged party faithful and stakeholders to unite behind the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming governorship elections in Ondo state.

To energise the party’s grassroots support, the minister has mobilized resources to facilitate ward meetings across all eleven wards in Akure, fostering a sense of community and inclusivity among party members.

The meetings were aimed at strengthening party cohesion, address concerns, and inspire supporters to work towards a common goal.

Olawande expressed his unwavering confidence in the party’s candidate, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and the APC’s vision for Ondo state’s prosperity.

He urged all stakeholders to work together to secure a resounding victory, paving the way for a brighter future for the state.

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“The upcoming election is a pivotal moment for our beloved state. Let us work together to ensure a triumphant outcome for our party and a brighter future for Ondo State”

“We owe it to ourselves, our children, and generations yet to come to build a prosperous and thriving state”, Olawande emphasized.

The Akure south local government chairman of the party, Chief Fesobi Akinmolayan applauded what he described as the noble gesture of the minister.

According to him, the minister is setting a new standard for other political appointees.

His commitment to the party’s success is unwavering, and we appreciate his dedication to moving our party forward”, Akinmolayan added.

The ward meetings, which have begun, have seen enthusiastic turnout and positive feedback from party members.

The Senator representing Ondo North Senatorial District, Jide Ipinsagba, has begun mobilisation of his constituents with a view to securing victory for Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

Senator Ipinsagba, who spoke at a Town Hall meeting, disbursed bursary to 1000 students from Ondo North senatorial district and also facilitated training and empowerment of 100 women soap making.

Ipinsagba appealed to political leaders to mobilise voters to vote for Governor Ayedatiwa in the November 16 governorship election to ensure continuity of APC in power.

He said he has confidence in Governor Aiyedatiwa to deliver true democratic dividends to the people of Ondo State.

The senator said the bursary award and empowerment was to show his passion and support for youth development.

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He said he facilitated the training of 100 youths and women under the auspices of Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) to provide jobs to the unemployed.

“I don’t think it is advisable to wait upon white-collar jobs that may not come as Government cannot engaged everyone either graduates or non-graduates.”

“It is wise to find something doing rather than becoming nuisance to the society.”

Senator Ipinsagba assured the people that he would continue to work for them to justify the trust imposed on him through the ballots.

The beneficiaries were drawn from across the six local government areas of the senatorial district.

Over 1,000 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akure South Local Government Area have defected to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State.

Led by Mayowa Ajemoju Boboye, the defectors cited a lack of internal democracy within the APC as their primary reason for leaving.

Among the defectors were APC Ward 8 leader Deborah Owosusi, Ademola Ayonijebu, Mayowa Boboye, Oloro Alejo, and Azeez Ibrahim, who led the Ebira group.

They pledged their support for the PDP and its governorship candidate, Hon Agboola Ajayi, in the upcoming November 16 governorship election, aiming to unseat the ruling party from Alagbaka.

The former APC members were welcomed at a rally held at the Akure Town Hall.

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Speaking on behalf of the defectors, former APC Organising Secretary in Akure South, Akinwande Fayinminu, criticized the APC’s leadership, blaming it for increasing hunger and hardship in the state. He stated that the APC has hindered their personal development as politicians.

He said: “The APC lacks internal democracy which is why they are factionalised, since they came to power they have not integrated many members of the party.

“They are operating the party like an occultic group. We can’t stay in such a party any longer.”

Boboye said the popularity of the APC was waning gradually which made them return to join forces with the PDP to rebuild the state.

Ajayi, who received the defectors, said his administration would provide the people of the state with a better alternative.

He said the PDP was ready to reposition the state and urged the new entrants to join hands with other members to canvass for the PDP to win back the state.

His words, “We are working very hard to regain the state and we need to be strategic about it to emerge victorious in the November 2024 election because the people of the state are looking up to us.

“As new members, I assure you of all rights accrued to the rest of our members. We will ensure that you benefit from every opportunity regarding the welfare of members without sentiments.”

Ondo PDP chairman, Tola Alabere, assured the party would accelerate development in the state if elected to power in November.

A former governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo state, Otunba Bamidele Akingboye, has said that he dumped the party to emerge candidate of the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to achieve his dreams of creating wealth for the citizens of the state.

Otunba Akingboye lost at the primary of the PDP which was won by Agboola Ajayi.

Akingboye said he has been contesting at the primary of the PDP for 21 years and was never given a chance to emerge as the party’s candidate.

The Certified Fraud Examiner, who spoke to our reporter in Akure, said he would win the November 16 governorship election because the people would vote for personality and not political party.

He said his interaction with voters across the state indicated that the people needed somebody like him to move the state forward.

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His words, “I have been an entrepreneur for many years. I know how to create wealth and put people to work. The suffering is too much.

“The people need someone who does not belong to any of those group. I have been contesting for 21 years using my personal resources. This is the time to put youth to work. The educational standard of the state will be restored under my watch.”

Chairman of the Ondo State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP), Mr Tola Alabere, has said that the loss of the November governorship election would end the existence of the party in the state.

Alabere stated that the majority of members might not remain in the party if the ruling All Progressives Congress emerged victorious.

He charged youths of the party to work selflessly and tirelessly for the victory of the party at the polls.

Alabere however said the PDP would emerge victorious in the November 16 governorship election if the youths go out to canvass for votes.

The Ondo PDP Chairman spoke at the inauguration of the PDP Youth Directorate in Akure, the state capital.

Alabere said: ‘’According to him, “I am happy because I never knew we still have a large number of youths in the PDP. If youths are given the opportunity they will perform. We have special youths in the PDP, we don’t breed rouges as PDP youths.

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 “You have to go out and canvass for the PDP. The PDP is the only party that can deliver the country. When you work, you will be rewarded. This election is a must-win for us. If we fail, that will be the end of the PDP in Ondo State. The majority may not remain in the PDP. So I want to plead with you, that this is your time. It is the level of commitment you put to it that will determine it. Let us return to our wards and unit to canvass the people.

” This attitude of collecting money to compromise at the polling unit must stop. If we commit ourselves we will win this election. Let us change for the better,” Alabere stated.

Ondo PDP youth leader, Mr  Victor Oguntoyinbo, vowed that the youths would work for victory at the polls.

“We are the most vibrant force and the future of this state. Our collective drive can and will reshape the political landscape of Ondo State. We are not just participants in this election; we are the architects of a new era. Our vision is clear. A prosperous Ondo State where opportunities are accessible to all, where education and healthcare are prioritized, where infrastructure supports growth, and where the youth are empowered to lead and innovate. This vision is not a distant dream; it is within our grasp, and it is our drive that will make it a reality.