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Tag: ONDO

  • Ondo PDP decries congratulatory messages to Mimiko

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State yesterday decried the comments and congratulatory messages sent by its National Publicity Secretary to Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

    The party said the compliments were fraught with irregularities.

    A statement signed by its Director of Publicity, Ayo Fadaka, said: “This flurry of messages, particularly by our kith and kin in the PDP, without consultation with us at the state level to find out what actually went wrong, has the potent tendency to misconstrue our position and the actions we intend to take.

    “We take serious exception to the obvious lack of camaraderie in our party and the indecent haste of certain functionaries to fall on each other in congratulating a man who essentially is a beneficiary of a compromised election.

    “It is important to place on record that the avalanche of the security provided for the election was lethargic and in contrast to what obtained in Edo State. The security men were only present in the urban areas. They were not seen in the rural areas, thereby allowing Mimiko and his goons to compromise the poll.

    “We are still gathering evidence of malpractices perpetrated in this election and what we have gathered so far will shock every apostle of one man one vote to their marrow. We declare that we will contest the result of this election and we assure our supporters that we will get victory and Mimiko will leave government the same way he came.

    “As far as the PDP in Ondo State is concerned, the battle is just beginning and victory is certain. Let whoever so desires continue to congratulate Mimiko, but we will battle him legally. We call on our members to remain undaunted in the face of this abandonment by those who ordinarily should show understanding and care at a time like this.”

  • Why Edo, Delta, Ondo, Ekiti lost bid, by NCP

    Why Edo, Delta, Ondo, Ekiti lost bid, by NCP

    Govt agencies defend sale of PHCN firm

     

    The Federal Government rose yesterday in defence of the power sector’s privatisation, after some governors said it was fraudulent.

    The National Council on Privatisation (NCP) and the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) are fighting off allegations of corruption, lack of transparency and opaque selection levelled by the governors, who promoted Southern Electric Distribution Company.

    Chairman of NCP Technical Committee, Mr. Atedo Peterside, said the company failed from the beginning by submitting multiple commercial bids – primary and alternative commercial bids.

    Besides, he said, the companies that make up the consortium are 90 per cent privately owned – not owned directly or indirectly by the governments of Delta, Edo, Ekiti and Ondo states.

    “Is it fair that a private sector group, 90 per cent controlled, to submit two envelopes in violation of the rule and then drum up support of governors to cry foul over the process that was adjudged transparent by local and international observers? Did the consortium tell the governors that they submitted two bids? Is it right to call for a change of the rule after the game has been played? Perterside asked.

    The NCP said it became imperative to respond to the allegations because of its potentially damaging fashion at a time when the nation is undertaking its largest and most complex privatisation transaction ever and which could raise divestment proceeds of close to N400 billion.

    Governors Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta) and Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), at a press conference in Abuja last week, said that the bidding for the distribution companies, which are part of the 18 successors of the unbundled Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), lacked transparency. Southern Electric Distribution Company, which the state governments promote.

    The governors said: “The bidding process as organised by the BPE on behalf of the NCP, leading to the commercial bid opening on Tuesday 16th October was not transparent and was even – “fraught with corruption. That the use of the Aggregate Technical, Commercial and Collection (ATC&C) loss reduction strategy as a commercial bid evaluation tool/ranking is opaque, untested and not transparent.

    “That Vigeo Power Consortium which submitted bid alongside Southern Electric Distribution Company for the Benin Electricity Distribution Company that emerged with the highest loss reduction target at the bid opening exercise lacked technical competence, experience and financial capability to manage such an extensive territory as covered by Benin Disco.

    Their states, said the governors, have invested in power production and therefore, they wanted the bidder which they preferred – Southern Electric Distribution Company – to be declared as winner, failing which they would not allow Vigeo to operate in their territory.

    Responding to the allegations, Mr. Peterside said: “The purpose of this is to present the full set of facts surrounding the ongoing power sector privatisation and to counter the very “weighty” allegations that the entire process was fraught with corruption. This allegation was widely publicised because it came out of a discussion/interview which the governors of Delta, Edo and Ekiti states had with the media on Thursday 18th October, 2012. The allegations of ‘corruption’ that I refer to were made with respect to the privatisation of Benin Disco in particular, and the privatisation process of the PHCN successor distribution companies (Discos) in general.

    “It is pertinent to point out that Southern Consortium is the only one, of the 16 consortia that participated in the bid opening, to have submitted multiple commercial bids for the same Disco. Their envelope contained two different commercial bids, both of which were signed by a Mr. Matthew Edevbie. The first bid was dubbed the “primary” bid, while the other was dubbed an “alternate” bid. This was a clear contravention of the Request for Proposals (RFPs). We did not make a big issue of this on live TV because both the primary and the alternate bids fell below the bid submitted by Vigeo and so neither bid would alter Southern Consortium’s ranking on the large screen. Instead, this matter was brought to the attention of the Technical Committee of NCP, which considered the breach and made recommendations to the NCP.

    “Therefore, on the allegation that the bid process was not transparent, I wholeheartedly affirm that the entire transaction followed due process and was governed by the provisions of the RFP.”

    “Incidentally, the submissions made by the Southern Consortium to the BPE show that the ownership of the Consortium is comprised of seven members as follows:- Uttar Gujarat Vij Company Limited (of India) (25% equity of consortium); Income Electrix Limited (of Nigeria) (25 %); Smartworks Global Resources Ltd (of Nigeria)(8.3%); Pinnacle Power Projects & Services Limited (of Nigeria) (31.7%); Fountain Holdings Limited (of Nigeria)[3.33%]; Citadel Nominees (of Nigeria)[3.33%]; and NJ Services (of Nigeria) (3.33%),” he said.

    On the allegation of Vigeo having little knowledge about the environment in which it wishes to operate, Peterside puntured the governors’ argument, saying there has never been a distribution licensee in Nigeria, apart from the Federal Government-owned distribution companies. He also noted that the information at NCP’s disposal indicates that GUMCO, a member of the Vigeo Consortium has participated in both the Revenue Cycle Management and National Prepaid Metering programmes since 2006. “It also introduced prepaid metering and billing to the Benin Disco. It started from Benin City and later extended its operations to Warri, Asaba, Ondo and Ekiti. It is worth noting that none of the members of the Southern Consortium has such a record.

    On the criticism of ATC&C loss reduction strategy, Peterside said the current ATC&C losses sustained by the various distribution companies in Nigeria are estimated at between 35 and 40 percent of the power wheeled to them. These levels of losses are very high. He noted that the privatisation strategy that the NCP chose for the Discos was aimed at addressing the identified problems within the distribution segment of the sector.

    “Accordingly, bidders were told from the onset that they would compete on the basis of a trajectory of technical, commercial and collection loss improvements for the first five years of operation. Furthermore, this method is built around the Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) 2 issued by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) – the industry regulator.

    “It is important to emphasise that all the bidders who participated in the Commercial Bid Opening had obtained scores in excess of 75% when technical evaluations were being scored some weeks ago. It is also imperative to point out that the NCP approved the privatisation strategy for the Discos, based on the use of ATC&C loss reduction proposal as a basis for core investor selection, as far back as 11th June, 2010. The advertisements that ran in December 2010 soliciting for Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from prospective core investors emphasised that the BPE would use this strategy. So, Southern Consortium knew the rules of the race before it joined the contest.

    “It is also apt to point out that even when the BPE solicited feedback from prospective investors about the bid process and the industry and transaction documents last year, Southern Consortium did not raise any concerns about the use of this strategy,” he added.

    Besides, in respect of the 20 Disco bidders, which NCP approved that they fully met the RFP requirement which specified that in order to have its commercial proposals opened each bidder must have a tangible net worth of a minimum of $100 million and competent technical partners, both Southern Consortium and Vigeo had competent technical partners from India.

    On the allegation of Vigeo having little knowledge about the environment in which it wishes to operate, Peterside said there has never been a distribution licensee in Nigeria, apart from the Federal Government-owned distribution companies.

    He also noted that the information at NCP’s disposal indicates that GUMCO, a member of the Vigeo Consortium, has participated in both the Revenue Cycle Management and National Prepaid Metering programmes since 2006. It also introduced prepaid metering and billing to the Benin Disco, starting from Benin City and later extending its operations to Warri, Asaba, Ondo and Ekiti. It is worth noting that none of the members of the Southern Consortium has such a record, Peterside said.

    He said that Vigeo Power Consortium has technical and financial capability, noting that Section 93 of the RFP states that: “Those bidders with proposals that have successfully achieved the benchmark technical score 75% will be considered eligible contenders, and the ranking of the bidders for each distribution company will be determined solely based on the technically qualified bidders’ Commercial Proposals.”

    Peterside insisted that the process was transparent as it was evaluated by a team whose members were drawn from the BPE, the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission; the Federal Ministry of Power; CPCS Transcom – advisers on the transaction; NEXANT—USAID-funded power sector consultants providing support to the BPE; and NIAF—DFID-funded infrastructure support programme to the Nigerian government. It was observed by officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and the Directorate of State Security Services (DSSS).

  • Ondo poll: Myth of Mimiko’s landslide victory

    Ever since the announcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Dr Olusegun Mimiko of the Labour Party (LP) as the winner of the October 20 governorship election in the Sunshine state, there has been a frenzy not just among the governor’s supporters but also in certain sections of the media. Many newspapers have been trying to outdo themselves in dramatising the scale of Mimiko’s purported landslide victory. The headlines have been creative, even entertaining. ‘Landslide Mimiko’. ‘Mimiko crushes ACN, PDP’. ‘How Olusegun Mimiko trounced PDP, ACN, Others’. One could go on and on. The objective is to manipulate public opinion and create the impression that Mimiko won an emphatic victory in the election. But accuracy of reporting is critical to the capacity of the press to help sustain and deepen democracy. Without accuracy of information, people could be easily misled into reaching wrong conclusions and innocently taking harmful decisions. The press must present and analyse the facts with scientific rigour devoid of partisanship. That is the only way it can effectively play its role as the watchdog of the people and facilitate the sustainable development of democracy in the country.

    Now, what do the statistics of this election tell us? The total number of registered voters was 1,546,081. The total number of accredited voters was 645,594. The total votes cast was 624,659 representing 40% of registered voters and meaning that there were 30,415 invalid votes. Governor Olusegun Mimiko of the LP was declared winner in 13 out of 18 local governments by INEC with 260,199 votes, which represents 41.6% of total votes cast. Olusegun Oke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was declared second winning in 2 local governments with 155, 961 votes representing 26.25% of total votes cast. Rotimi Akeredolu of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) was declared third winning in three local governments with 143,512 votes representing 24.15% of the total votes cast. A close analysis of these figures shows that more voters actually voted against Mimiko. Approximately 57% of total votes cast were actually against Mimiko and in favour of his opponents. He, therefore, did not get a majority of the votes and could not logically have won a landslide victory.

    To demonstrate this point further, let us examine the statistical implications of the July 14, 2012 governorship election in Edo state which returned Governor Adams Oshiomhole to office. In the Edo election, the total number of registered voters was 1,651,099. The total number of votes cast was 647,698 representing 40% of registered voters. Governor Oshiomhole scored 477,478 votes, representing 73% of total votes cast. General Airhaivbere of the PDP scored 144,235 votes, which was 22% of total votes cast. The other candidates in the election recorded 6% of total votes cast. All Governor Oshiomhole’s opponents put together polled 152,621 votes, thus trailing the comrade governor by 324,857 votes. Oshiomhole won a majority of votes cast and it is this example that can be accurately and properly described as a landslide victory.

    A perceptive analyst, Mr. Emmanuel Aziken, graphically captured this point in his clinical dissection of the October 20 Ondo state governorship election result. According to him “In the end, the people of Ondo state decided to return Dr. Mimiko apparently based on what has been largely described as his credentials in office. However, it was a narrow escape. Yesterday’s declared results gave Mimiko 260,199 votes out of a total of 624,659 voters representing about 40%. He thus did not get majority of the votes. The PDP candidate, Olusola Oke who came second with 155,961 votes and ACN’s Rotimi Akeredolu who came third with 143,512 votes together mustered enough votes that could have probably sent Mimiko packing. However, the past history of animosity between the PDP and ACN did not allow the two to form an alliance. Remarkably, Mimiko was returned to power by the Court of Appeal in 2009 which scored him 198,261 votes and his rival, Segun Agagu with 128,669. Then he had more than 55% of the votes. How the governor’s votes proportionally diminished between 2007 and 2012 is an issue for the governor and his handlers.”

    It is significant in this respect that the governor enjoys the advantages of incumbency. The PDP is crisis ridden. Believing that Mimiko was coming to join its ranks, the ACN allowed its structure to grow moribund only reviving its machinery a few months to the election. Interestingly, before Governor Mimiko headed to court in 2007 to challenge the election result, INEC had declared Dr. Segun Agagu winner with a landslide of 349,258 votes representing 53.2% of total votes cast. Mimiko was said to have scored 226,021 votes, which was 34.4% of total votes cast. Forensic investigation proved INEC’s declaration a fraud and Mimiko reclaimed his mandate. The results declared by INEC in the October 20 election will surely attract the interest of forensic auditors. The story may have just begun to unfold and the press should simply keep the people accurately informed.

  • Ondo formula is simply not reusable

    Ondo formula is simply not reusable

    To police some 1.5 million expected voters in yesterday’s governorship poll, half of whom may not even vote, the federal government sent in four police commissioners, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman himself, an estimated 8,000 soldiers according to a newspaper estimate, about 11,000 policemen, and a battery of sundry officials, a horde of election observers, and a gaggle of journalists from newspapers nearly all of which are disposed to Governor Olusegun Mimiko, one of the candidates in the election. This certainly cannot be a dress rehearsal for the 2015 polls, for the security agencies would be stretched wafer thin as to be in danger of snapping.

    There is no doubt that the October 20 Ondo poll is hugely significant in and to the Southwest. But to deploy an armada, as it were, to police a relatively small voting population appears to me to be excessive. Not only that, it even suggests to me that we seem to think whenever we are confronted by difficult situations, the magic formula is to overwhelm the problem with all the force the nation can muster. Our governments are not intellectually inclined, have no finesse, and are blissfully unaware of the image and messages they send out to the rest of the world silently but carefully watching our every nuance. Do we think there is no better way of policing votes or ensuring the integrity of elections conducted here? I think there are. The problem is that we have not engaged those novel methods because the government at the centre has not shown the altruism, dignity and detachment required to instil discipline in a combustible polity.

    In the last general elections, what did the government do to punish those who undermined the balloting process in some affected states? Nothing. In a few states in the South-South, voter turnout was too fantastic to be true, in some cases recording nearly twice the national average. What did the federal government do to restore confidence in the face of such brazen thievery? The government implausibly and incredibly argued that since the exaggerated figures merely emphasised the voting pattern, not contradict it, it was needless complaining or doing something about it. The cancer was therefore left unattended. In fact, in the history of elections in Nigeria, the voter turnout in the riverine states has always been excessively unrealistic. If the president had sensibly cancelled those elections and ordered a rerun, he would have sent the message that whether it favoured him or not the integrity of polls must at all times be upheld, and he would be ready even at his own peril to stake his presidency to secure the sanctity of the elections.

    Until we have a president willing to lose an election or to stake his presidency on ensuring electoral integrity, we may never have a poll where the candidates would not be desperate to undermine the balloting process. The use of overwhelming force was first successfully applied in the Edo governorship election, and was again applied in yesterday’s Ondo poll. It will be used in subsequent isolated polls. But it cannot be applied in the 2015 general elections because the country does not have the resources to deploy as much logistics and as many men as it did yesterday. Indeed, such deployments indicate there is still something terribly wrong with the country, which if not tackled urgently may finally consume all of us. But every time I make such an argument, I feel more and more like Cassandra.

     

  • Ondo poll results trickle in

    Ondo poll results trickle in

    The result of Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo States is being collated across the state following the conclusion of the exercise which was largely peaceful.

    Counting of votes which started shortly after voting was concluded in several parts of the state may last till early hours of Sunday before the announcement of the winner.

    Incumbent Governor, Olusegun Mimiko of Labour Party and Rotimi Akeredolu of the Action Congress of Nigeria are the two leading candidates in the election.

    Early results declared by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) indicate that the two candidates have recorded victories in some of the units already counted.

    In Unit six in Owo divided into two by INEC, Akeredolu polled 139 votes in the polling booth 1 where he voted, while Governor Mimiko had 144 votes. In booth 2 Akeredolu got 67 votes and Mimiko 58.

    Mimiko in his own ward 7 in Ondo town polled 348 votes, Akeredolu 16 and Olusola Oke of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 11.

    Results from Ondo North Central indicate that the ACN and the LP are in a close race.

    It was not clear yet which party had the upper hand as both parties won in several units.

    ACN polled 109 votes against LP’s 82 in Unit 10, Ward 5, Oka in Akoko South-West Local Government Area.

    PDP scored 43; African Political System (APS) got one and Peoples Democratic Congress (PDC) had three votes.

    17 votes were invalidated either because of multiple thumb printing or unprinted spaces.

     

  • Ondo guber poll: IGP orders restriction of movements

    Ondo guber poll: IGP orders restriction of movements

    Determined  to ensure adequate security for the Ondo State governorship election scheduled for Saturday, the Inspector- General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, on Wednesday ordered restriction on movements in and around the state.

    Starting from Thursday October 18 to Friday 19, there will be restriction of movements in and out of Akure, the state capital between 6pm – 6am.

    There will be total restriction of movements in and out of the state from 6pm on Friday to 8pm on Saturday, “except for those on essential duties and or such degree of movement necessary for citizens to exercise their franchise on the election day.”

    A statement by Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Frank Mba, urged travelers and citizens intending to use roads in and out of Ondo State to divert to alternative routes.

    “The IGP appealed for the understanding and cooperation of the entire citizenry, as the restriction is essentially to ensure the effective security of citizens, election officials and materials. It is a strategy to curtail the influx and movement of undesirable and criminal elements in and out of the state before and during the election,” the statement said.

    Abubakar assured that adequate security logistics and manpower had been strategically deployed to achieve a most conducive electioneering atmosphere.

    “In this regard, policemen for election duty have been properly trained, briefed and sensitized on their roles as stipulated in the Electoral Act. They are expected to be professional, non partisan, civil but firm in their approach and relation to the public; and to strictly observe Force Order 237 on the use of firearms to ensure that inalienable rights of the citizens are not trampled upon.

    “The IGP uses this medium to advise politicians to play by the rules. Consequently, politicians, political office holders and all very important personalities who are not directly involved in the conduct of the election, are expected to peacefully cast their votes and return to their homes.

    “On no account must they be involved in monitoring of election, as the police will enforce to the letter, all laws relating to the elections and law breakers appropriately dealt with in accordance with the law of the land.

    “Citizens of Ondo State are enjoined to come out enmasse to exercise their civic right, as the police, assisted by other security agencies, have mapped out plans to ensure that persons who are out to cast their votes, do so without fear of molestation from any quarters,” it added.

     

     

  • Ondo REC: we’ve learnt lessons from Edo election pitfalls

    Ondo REC: we’ve learnt lessons from Edo election pitfalls

    Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner Akin Orebiyi spoke with Deputy Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU on preparations by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the governorship election in the state.

    How prepared is INEC for the challenge of October 20 in Ondo State?

    We can confidently say that INEC is fully prepared for the conduct of the governorship election. As we speak, we have been receiving non-sensitive materials from INEC headquarters. We have also done quite a number of meetings with stakeholders. We have rounded up the voter education forum at the local government level. The essence of the voter education forum is to educate the voters on their responsibilities, their duties and also the procedures for the conduct of the election and the election process on the election day. It has been a useful experience and a unique one. This effort is being sponsored by the International Federation of Electoral System (IFES), a partner of INEC in the last 13 years.

    What are the elements of the voters education programme?

    The voter education forum involves two major activities. One, there is a stakeholders’ meeting at the local government level, which runs for three hours. There, the electoral process is explained to the stakeholders, political parties, members of the civil society organisations and officials of the National Orientation Agency and INEC officials in the local government. Questions are taken and answers are provided by INEC. After that, we did a road show and distributed flyers and posters. IFES provided 540,000 flyers and nearly 200,000 posters in English, Yoruba and Ijaw languages for the benefit of the electorate. we have been distributing them at the forum and various religious worship centres. We have presented to the political parties and electorate soft copies of the voters’ register. We have explained to them what to find inside the voters register and how the information could also help them to muster greater efforts in canvassing for votes at the 18 local governments, 203 wards and 309 polling units across the state. We have trained the 334 agents of 13 political parties. We have trained our supervisors for the election. We will have 223 supervisors for the election. UNDP sponsored the second training for party agents. The first one was sponsored by the International Republican Institute (IRI).INEC has also conducted training for presiding officers and assistant presiding officers. The bulk will come from the National Youth Service Corps. Whatever shortfall we have will be filled by students of tertiary institutions.

    What are the rules and regulations guiding the governorship campaigns?

    The first is understanding the process itself. We are urging the political parties and electorate to adopt the electoral process as their own. The campaign started on July 24. It is to end on the eve of the election, October 19. Any other campaign after that is a violation of the guideline. All campaigns must end on Friday, October 19. On election day, there must not be any campaign. There will be no movement around the state on the election day. Each voter will only go to his or her polling unit. Party agents are not allowed to roam about the streets. There is a party agent for a political unit. Government officials and party officials are not allowed to move around. They cannnot carry weapons to election grounds on the day of election . Security will be provided adequately. You are meant to carry to the polling booth only your voter’s card. If you don’t have a voter’s card, don’t bother to come to the polling unit. Accreditation will start 8.am. It is going to be different this time. This means our officials, men and materials would have arrivedat the 309,000 polling units at 7 am. Even, if there is delay, they should be there by 7.30 am. Accreditation will take place between 8.am and 12 noon. After accreditation, voting will start by 12.30 pm. But any polling unit where accreditation of voters does not end by 12 noon, the presiding officer will count the number of people yet to be accredited and he will now ask the security officer on duty to stand behind the last person on the queue, which means nobody can join the line after 12 noon.The implication of this is that voting may not start in some units at exactly 12.30 pm. When voting starts, it does not end until the last accredited person has voted. That means voting will not end at a particular time. After voting, there will be sorting of the ballot papers according to the political parties voted for. There will be counting and after counting, there will be announcement of results. Only results would be announced and no winner will be declared at that level. Voters are free to stay within the vicinity, two or three hundred metres, to watch the entire electoral process on election day. After the announcement of results, voters are advised quietly to return home. We will move from there to the ward collation centre to do the collation of all the polling units in that ward. We announce the result, we don’t declare winner. From there, we move to the local government collation centre. Then, we move to the state collation centre at INEC office in Akure where the final collation will be done and results will be announced.

    How are you responding to the complaints of political parties raising eyebrow about the voters’ register?

    There have been complaints about the voter’s register. We perfectly understand their feelings and they are based on the previous experience they had about INEC as the electoral umpire. INEC officials in the past have been part and parcel of the elections in the past. They have been partisan. But since Prof. Attahiru Jega came in with his new commission in June 2010, INEC has changed completely. It has very fair and unbiased in its activities and all the elections and rerun elections. This will also happen here on October 20. We are going to make sure that every aspect of the election will be laid open in a transparent manner for everybody to see.Concerning the voters register, we have organised a lot of stakeholders’ meeting, enlightening, informing and educating voters and political parties about the voters’ register. Also, we have reverted to the manual voters register as a back up where we are not able to use electronic voters register. Their names will appear this year as an addendum. The only difference is that it will not carry photographs of the voters. INEC is doing its best to ensure that the voters register is credible. After we released the voters register on September 20, I can say that, up to today, no party has officially approached us to complain about the voters register. When a party agent is given a voters register for his unit, he can verify whether the names are those who live in the vicinity or not. What we released last year was tentative. it has been upgraded now.

    When was the voters register displayed by INEC?

    The law says voters register should be published 30 days to election. That was what we did on September 20 when we gave political parties a soft copy each. The point is that the voters register has over 80,000 pages. So, if you want to publish it, newspapers will not be able to finish it until the day of the election.That is why we have the benefit of the soft copy. We have 1.6 million voters. On the day of the election, we will display voters register for the units.

    What special arrangement is INEC making for the conduct of the election in the riverine areas?

    We have two local governments in riverine areas; Ilaje and Ese-Odo local governments.There are one or two polling units by the river in Irele, one island in Odigbo local government. Ilaje local government has 181 of its polling units on water. Ese-Odo has 67 of its polling units on water. What we did was to work closely with security agents. We had had toured the creeks for about four hours, assessing the polling units there, the wards, and meeting with the community leaders there, seeking their understanding and cooperation. So, we have done a lot of assessment concerning the difficult terrain in the riverine areas. In addition, we are making preparation for boats from Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa states. We will also hire boats locally here to complement what INEC is providing. We are looking at not less than 68 boats for the election. We have obtained life jackets to take care of hundred of people in the riverine areas on election day. In order not to get late to the polling units, we are going to move election materials a day ahead for Ilaje local government. Parties’ agents will also accompany them to Igbokoda where we are going to warehouse the election materials until they are moved to the wards.Within an hour or two after opening the 203 wards so that men and materials can get to the 3,009 polling units without delay on October 20.

    What were the lessons INEC had learned from the recent governorship election in Ondo State?

    A lot. We have learned to be open and transparent, explain everything in details to the stakeholders. We must regularly feed them with information at various levels. We have learned to carry all the political parties along in whatever we do. We respond to their questions promptly across the 18 local governments.In terms of the challenges encountered in Edo State like the late arrival of materials to a number of polling units, we want to prevent this here. We will leave by 5 am and within two hours, we are the various polling units, ahead of the 8 am when polling units are expected to open. There was protest about the use of the addendum. We have been telling people since July this year that the addendum will be used. It was rejected in Edo State because they said they did not know in advance. So, we have been telling the people on radio and television.

     

  • Ondo progressives task INEC on fair election

    Ondo progressives task INEC on fair election

    The Ondo State Progressives,Lagos chapter have called the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct free and fair election in the October 20, governorship polls in the state.

    Addressing reporters in Lagos the chairman of the pressure group, Prince Dele Oduwale said it had become very crucial to ensure that Ondo people freely choose their leader and allowing the best candidate to emerge.

    They maintained that whatever government could do to improve on the security situation in the state that would lead to a free and fair election is welcomed.

    “All we are saying is that we don’t want bloodshed, if it warrants the deployment of soldiers to the state as long as the safety of the people is assured, it will be welcomed.”

    Oduwale explained that Ondo people are well educated people and would not tolerate any act that compromises their rights. “They are always ready to defend their rights no matter what happen. We are living witnessed to previous elections where they have to defend their votes even with their blood.”

    The group membership which cut across party lines, said they would be willing to work any candidate that emerged at the elections as long as the best candidate was produced through a fair election.

    He said: “Why we are calling this press conference is that there has been lot of rumours and controversies in Ondo State that Ondo State progressives Lagos Chapter has followed Dr Olu Agunloye to Labour Party, we need to correct that impression.”

    “What happened is that when he could not get the Action Congress of Nigeria’s ticket we had to re-examine and review the situation. What happened thereafter, was that the association became a divided, split along people who felt we are core ACN members and our loyalty belong to the party and believes ACN is where they align and others who believe in Dr Agunloye and we are following him to wherever he goes.

    “So the situation today is that Ondo State Progressives, Lagos chapter is divided into two, some members of the association followed Dr Agunloye to LP, there are other members of the association who are committed members of ACN and remained with the party, it is imperative that the misconception is corrected.

    “We have resolved that the association will remain indivisible; we might have political difference but remain indivisible such that after the election, we will all come back again and sit down and say okay the election is over let us progress.”

    Primarily our intention is not political, what is important to us we want to uplift through our individual contribution and collective contribution to the progress of Ondo State, we want to contribute that quota, so after the election we all come back together again and work,” the chairman emphasised.

     

  • Ondo: now the crunch

    Ondo: now the crunch

    Lionisation and demonization come with electioneering. You lionise your own and demonise your opponent; and vice-versa. It is all a show of emotions, as contestants cosh their opponents with a quick one, and hope to sucker in the electorate with a quick vote.

    As in shooting wars – despite the Geneva Convention – all appears fair in electoral wars. And so it has been with the Ondo gubernatorial electioneering, with the election billed for October 20.

    The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has “rushed” incumbent Olusegun Mimiko with a charge of Judas to South West integration; and a likely scapegrace to pan-Yoruba economic integrity and prosperity, in a troubled Nigeria not all sure of its future. They have also taunted Iroko with the paucity of his Labour Party (LP) platform: it is a small pond in which the Iroko loves to play as a big fish. In due time, the ACN insists, both dried pond and dead whale would be history.

    But the Iroko has charged back waving the primordial card, claiming some indigenes of Ondo State are more indigene than others. He fingered Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the ACN national leader, as head of “aliens” come to invade his native Ondo in political conquest; and dismissed Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, the ACN candidate, as no more than a colonial day District Officer (DO), come to underscore that conquest. All foul is fair in electoral war!

    Why, even Lawyer/Cleric, Pastor Tunde Bakare who, were he making his argument in court would have been dismissed as a meddlesome interloper, has waded into the fray; consolidating his emerging notoriety of abusing his pulpit and insulting his congregation with brazen political yammering passing as activism, instead of preaching the gospel as his calling demands. The learned man of God is all scholarly, all articulate and appears to have mastered the devastating polemics of the political gospel. Yet, he appears to have totally lost the Christ message to the lowly and the humble: it is not what you eat that defiles you. It is rather what you say!

    Even in the media, gladiators have weighed in on both sides. That is quite legitimate, for media endorsement or non-endorsement is part of a rich and robust legacy in a democracy; so long as such interventions help the voter to make reasonable choices.

    Yet, many writers on the Ondo election are beginning to manifest the partisan conspiracy and media charlatanism that made many in 2011 glumly rationalise that grand folly: claiming to vote for Jonathan, not his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Now, one year after, there is mass lamentation and gnashing of teeth over the ill luck of Goodluck! Talk of the burden of bad choice!

    That brings the discourse to the electoral crunch of October 20. But before then, a preface of the dramatis personae.

    Two governors would qualify as among the most pivotal to the fortune of Lagos State: Alhaji Lateef Jakande (1979-1983) and Asiwaju Tinubu (1999-2007).

    In plucking the proverbial low hanging fruits and boasting rapid fire responses and achievements, Alhaji Jakande is second to none. His progressive mass education policy and rapid, almost breath-taking delivery of housing stock, as landmarked by his numerous people-named “Jakande Estates” that dot the metropolis, not to talk of his futuristic Metroline fast rail mass transit that the military killed in 1984, are the stuff of which legends are made. But the Action Governor only built on traditional governance as he knew it.

    Not so, Tinubu, who opted for governmental modernisation. That explains the exponential growth in internally generated revenue from N600 million monthly to some N23 billion now. True, Lagos had always been blessed with good administrators according to Gov. Fashola at an ICAN annual lecture. Perhaps too, Lagos had always been “rich”, compared to other states.

    But the Tinubu era fiscal modernisation policy vaulted Lagos from its “rich” potentials to an active driver of its economy, independent of a bloated and arrogant central government, despite Nigeria’s flawed federal system. The immaculate Babatunde Fashola government is ample proof of this transformation.

    Now, what have all these got to do with Ondo? Plenty! October 20 is an electoral clash between following a present routine; or upping the stakes with a new paradigm.

    Those going berserk over Mimiko’s “achievements” are resigned to the present Ondo cosmetics of churning around fat Federation Account receipts (and Ondo earns highest in the South West, as an oil producing state) with mediocre vision and pedestrian projects as Mimiko has done for the past four years; or opting for a new paradigm to vault the state, ala Lagos, to start running its show, and deliver prosperity to its longsuffering people, in the context of an integrated South West, however Nigeria navigates it shark-infested pseudo-federal waters.

    So, those who dismiss Akeredolu as just another DO from the Tinubu colonial army, would do well to vet the track record of previous DOs: Babatunde Fashola is first, and his record in Lagos is universally acclaimed. Many, in the passion of winning an argument at all cost, tend to separate his tenure from its Tinubu era nativity. But that is tantamount to separating an aircraft in full flight from its belaboured take-off. It is a most asinine and illogical distinction.

    The second DO is Kayode Fayemi in Ekiti. Despite its universally acclaimed brain power, it has taken the coming of Dr. Fayemi to start a deliberate and consistent pattern of development, contrasted to the ruinous ad hoc methods of past years.

    The third DO is Rauf Aregbesola. In less than two years in office, he has stamped his infrastructural genius on the State of Osun (as he before did in Lagos urban renewal, as Tinubu’s Works and Infrastructure commissioner); and proved that Osun need not be at the mercy of the visionless and the dim-witted.

    Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) and Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo) have barely scaled their first anniversary for any vigorous assessment. But whatever path they choose to tread, it won’t be for lack of directions, from party mates, heading older governments in the South West.

    True, there are some quality governors, even in the PDP, which boasts no coherent post-election compass. Rivers’ Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi is one. Niger’s Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu is another. But all these are scattered across the country.

    No part of Nigeria, as at now, boasts a bevy of contiguous states under one party, which not only has a coherent and integrated plan but also a demonstrable prototype of implementing that plan. ACN, to be sure, commits avoidable hubris by preening it has the Yoruba integration franchise.

    But it can claim legitimate bragging right that having demonstrated competence in other neighbouring states, the Ondo electorate has something novel to look forward to, en route to economic integration of the South West, if it wins on October 20.

    That is the exciting prospect before Ondo voters. They should not allow anti-Tinubu bogey and allied fears to blight that prospect. It is time to think right and vote right; and in so doing, avoid sure future lamentation.

     

  • In Ondo, the die is cast

    In Ondo, the die is cast

    Six days to Ondo State’s governorship election, Damisi Ojo, in Akure, takes a close look at the final preparations, the battle zones, the leading candidates, their chances and the top politicians that can make the difference.

    By this week’s Saturday, electorate in Ondo State will be exercising their franchise as they elect a new governor that will take over power in the state for the next four years.

    Out of 63 political parties in the country, only 13 have shown interest and have been screened by the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] for the polls in the state.

    The Action Congress of Nigeria [ACN] will be represented by the former President of the Nigeria Bar Association [NBA], Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu [SAN], the incumbent governor, Olusegun Mimiko is the standard bearer of Labour Party (LP), the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP], candidate is Chief Olusola Oke, and the Congress for Progressive Change [CPC] flagbearer is Mr. Soji Ehinlanwo.

    Others are, Oladipo Bolade, National Conscience Party (NCP), Abikanlu James Olusola, National Solidarity Democratic Party (NSDP, Victor Oluwaremi Adetunsin, People for Democratic Change (PDC), Omoregha Olatunji, Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA), Adeyemi Bolarinwa, All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Omoleye Afolabi Olorunwa, and Change Advocacy Party (CAP) Omoregha Olatunji.

    Already, for the past three months, since the electoral body gave the marching order to political parties to commence their political campaigns, these parties and their candidates had been selling their agenda to the electorate on the need to vote for them.

    But, since the commencement of the election process in the state, it is now clear to all stakeholders that the gubernatorial battle is primarily between three major political parties namely ACN, LP and the PDP.

    Stakeholders came into such conclusion because the three parties, more than the rest, are solidly on ground.

    The ACN and PDP chieftains have however resolved to send the ruling LP’s government away in the state, while Governor Mimiko believes he will score the majority votes to retain his exalted seat.

    On several rallies attended by Mimiko, the LP flagbearer had told the electorate, particularly members of the party, that he would defeat his opponents with landslide margin, stressing that he had touched all sectors in the state.

    But, Akeredolu and Oke have insisted that Mimiko had failed in all his electioneering promises. For example, Akeredolu, who was one of the legal team that reclaimed Mimiko’s mandate at the tribunal in 2009, have criticized Mimiko’s administration at several occasions, saying the state needs a change of leadership and a leader that would allow the state to key into the proposed South-West economic integration.

    As the D-day draws near, there is palpable fear that the election may not be violent free. The ACN and PDP, for example, had always accused the LP of using thugs to disrupt their rallies.

    ACN candidate’s Akeredolu campaign team had been reportedly attacked on most of its rallies in rural communities in the state. Also, thebMimiko Campaign Organisation [ACO] Director of Publicity and Media Relations, Mr. Kolawole Olabisi, recently alleged that the Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, had concluded plan to fill the state with hoodlums.

    Also, Olabisi raised an alarm recently that ACN national leadership had imported the factional leader of the Oyo State National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Lateef Akinsola, to cause mayhem during the election.

    Shortly after the three major contenders got their various political party tickets; different groups had been endorsing the candidates. For instance, Governor Mimiko before his declaration was endorsed by leaders of Nigeria Labour Congress [NLC] in the state for second term, but this had been generally condemned by stakeholders in the state.

    Their chances:

    It is not yet clear who may likely emerge as the next governor of the state, particularly because ACN, PDP and LP have strategically elected their candidates from the three senatorial areas of the state.

    ACN flagbearer is from Owo Local Government Area in the Northern senatorial area of the state, where many have argued that it is their turn to produce the next governor of the state, because of the zoning system.

    The LP adopted Mimiko for second term. The governor is from Ondo in the Central senatorial district, while PDP who had witnessed political crisis in the state believed that the only way to return to power in the state is by picking its candidate, Chief Olusola Oke, an indigene of Ilaje local government, an oil producing community in the Southern senatorial district.

    The leadership of the party took this decision because they believed the poor masses in the oil producing communities will accept and vote for a party that picks their kinsman as a standard bearer due to the general belief of the stakeholders in the area that they have not felt the impact of the present administration of the ruling LP.

    With this, Oke, Akeredolu and Mimiko may be relying on catchment advantage from the three senatorial districts. But investigations show that due to the agitation of the people from the northern district areas of the state to produce the next governor, most prominent politicians from the six local governments have decided to back ACN in order to achieve this unifying objective.

    ACN, it would be recalled became the most popular opposition party, particularly in the state immediately after the last 2011 general elections, following the defection of notable politicians from the LP and PDP.

    Among eminent politicians in the northern district who defected to ACN were, a serving Senator, Ajayi Boroffice, the State Chairman of LP, Dr. Olaiya Oni, former Commissioner in Mimiko’s government, Prince Sola Amodeni, Hon. Saka Lawal, who was a former governorship aspirant of ACN but left after Akeredolu was picked and among others

    As demonstration of ACN’s popularity in the district, majority of the governorship aspirants of the party were from the North. Not only this, the two governors that have been produced by the progressive party in the past, were also from the northern district.

    Despite, the defection of few politicians, most especially governorship aspirants to other parties, ACN still remains relevant in the northern district.

    The serving senator, Boroffice, who was among leading governorship aspirants, had ordered his political supporters to work for Akeredolu and ACN to ensure the party takes of the leadership of the state.

    Another politician who is likely to help decide election in Akoko area, Prince Solagbade Amodeni, has also supported ACN national leadership’s decision in picking Akeredolu.

    Amodeni, who served under Mimiko as a commissioner and also as a chairman of Akoko South-East for two terms, is known to be a strong politician, enjoying enormous political loyalty in the local government. It is on record that he has never lost any election in his community, Ipesi Akoko.

    Besides, Akokos are clamouring for a change of government due to what they described as total neglect by the present administration. Also, some indigenes of Owo are now leaving their political parties to support the candidature of their kinsman, Akeredolu.

    One of the politicians, who recently joined ACN is Dr. Bode Ayorinde, a Pro-Chancellor of Achievers Private University in Owo. Ayorinde was a former aspirant for Owo/Ose federal constituency under the platform of LP.

    Another great politician working for the success of ACN in Owo is a businessman, and chieftain of the party, Chief Femi Adekanmbi. Adekanmbi was a former member of LP but left the party after he was dropped for the incumbent lawmaker representing Owo/Ose Federal constituency, Hon. Olorunda Omosule.

    In order to test his popularity, Adekanmbi joined the ACN and he was picked as the party’s candidate but lost the election to Omosule.

    Just of recent, four Mimiko’s aides from the Northern Senatorial District resigned their appointment and joined the ACN. They are Messers Kayode Agunloye [aka K.K] Soji Ojomo, Chris Anota and the aides to the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Mr. Opeyemi Igbede.

    ACN chances in claiming majority votes from Northern senatorial district, also received a major boost when a former LP House of Assembly aspirant from Owo Local Government, Hon. Kehinde Bello [aka HK] led thousands of LP members, including the party’s executives, to ACN fold. Bello, known as a strong grassroots politician in Owo, also ordered his group, Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership [MGGEL], which has over 3,000 members, to work for Akeredolu.

    However, the ruling LP and PDP may not allow the ACN to have an easy ride during the election because of some prominent politicians who still remain loyal to either LP or PDP.

    For Instance, the former State Chairman, Olaiya Oni and his political son, Hon Saka Lawal, who were known as election strategists, decided to leave the ACN following the emergence of Akeredolu and for the reason that Akoko man was not endorsed by the ACN national leadership as the party flagbearer.

    Oni and Saka was lured by PDP chieftains to their fold with a promise that Saka, who was a former Special Adviser to Governor Mimiko, will be picked as the running mate of the party candidate and by 2017 power will return to the northern district.

    Also, former Minister for Defence, Tokunbo Kayode, two former State House of Assembly Speakers, Victor Olabimtan and Taofeek Abdulsalam, are politicians who may spring surprises

    Olabimtan, who was one of the PDP governorship aspirants came from a community, Supare, in Akoko South West, where it is reported that he has never lost election to any political party despite the fact that the present Deputy Governor, Alli Olanusi is from the same community.

    However, it is not clear, if the three immediate past National Assembly lawmakers, Senator Bode Olajumoke and a former House of Representatives Lawmaker representing Owo/Ose Federal Constituenacy, Dr. Lad Ojomo and Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, who represented Akoko North East/West in the lower chamber, will work for the party in the October 20, poll.

    Despite reconciliation meetings organised by the leadership of PDP, these three leaders from the northern part of the state had refused to show up in its political meetings.

    During the recent visit of former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, in Akure, the state capital, with some national leaders of PDP for a rally to endorse their party candidate, Oke, the three former lawmakers who are still members of the party did not attend the political event.

    Obasanjo had to appeal to the aggrieved members to sheathe their swords and work for the party. He described those who are working against the progress of the party as dishonest people.

    In Owo, Otunba Oyewole Fasawe, a chieftain of PDP was one of the aggrieved members of the party that had publicly declared his intention to work for Oke, who was described as his political son.

    Fawase hails from the same town where ACN candidate, Akeredolu came from. As part of his commitment to PDP, Fasawe, who was a close political associate of Obasanjo, have been working to strenghten PDP in Owo.

    In the LP’s camp, the party may be relying on the incumbent Deputy Governor, Alli Olanusi, Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Emiola Dare, and a former governorship aspirant of ACN, who recently returned to LP after his ambition to emerge as the governorship candidate of the party failed.

    Agunloye retraced his step back to the ruling LP where he left after the party leaders decided to drop him for Prof. Ajayi Boroffice as the party’s candidate for the senatorial seat in the last year’s general election.

    Agunloye, who pursued his governorship ambition through a political platform “Omoluabi,” left for LP after he lost the ACN’s ticket. He criticised ACN’s leadership.

    But, the National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, described Agunloye as a mole in the party. Akande alleged that the aspirant, who is from Erusu in Akoko South West Local Government is Mimiko’s agent, saying he had gone back to his master who sent him to destroy the party.

    Akande noted that reports from members of the party in the state and investigations conducted by the party confirmed that Agunloye was an agent of LP in ACN.

    With this development, several politicians who were received into the fold of ACN through “Omoluabi Platform,” like Femi Johnson, who is now the Deputy Director of Aketi Campaign in the Southern Senatorial District, Adewale Omojuwa, one of the leading aspirants for the Deputy Governorship slot, among others, refused to defect along with Agunloye.

    Looking at the Central Senatorial District, many political observers are of the opinion that Ondo Central has not got its fair share in power rotation of the state. Ondo Central District is made up of six local government areas, including Akure South, Akure North, Ifedore, Ondo East, Ondo West and Idanre.

    It is the district that houses Akure, the state capital, which many believed has the largest number of electorate because of its urbanisation.

    Our investigation however shows that the three major political parties, namely the Labour Party (LP), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are on ground in the district.

    As things are, the ruling LP relies much on the district to garner majority votes that would catapult it into power for the second term

    Investigations also show that Ondo North has sympathy for Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

    Electorates in the area, particularly the Akokos, are aggrieved over complete neglect of the area by the present Mimiko’s administration. It is believed that this is one of the reasons ACN leadership zoned its governorship ticket to Ondo North, where Akoko land is a major stakeholder.

    Also because of the dwindling popularity of LP, unlike in 2007, many prominent politicians in Ondo Central, particularly Akure South/North Federal Constituency, had dumped the ruling party either to ACN or PDP. One important politician here is the former commissioner and chieftain of the PDP, Chief Tayo Alasoadura, from Akure North.

    He joined ACN as a governorship aspirant, but because of the zoning formula, which did not favour Ondo Central, the leadership of ACN have him the arduous task of coordinating the October 20 elections for ACN.

    Alasoadura is presently the National Director of Planning and Strategy of the party. He is a grassroots politician who exerts a lot of influence.

    Another notable politician in Akure South is the incumbent lawmaker representing Akure North/South Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Hon. Ifedayo Sunday Abegunde.

    He recently defected from the ruling LP at the floor of the House of Representatives to join ACN ‘Abena’.

    Within the same constituency, we have the likes of the former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) under late Adefarati’s regime, Chief Wunmi Adegbonwure, a.k.a Omo Ekun, a prominent son of Akure, and a follower of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

    He has been so committed to the cause of ACN and leads its Elders Forum.

    Equally influential is the former commissioner for information in the late Adebayo Adefarati’s administration, Prince Olu Adegboro, who is mobilising his people for ACN.

    Others in the progressive party within the same Central District are Chief Akin Olokunboro, a former member of the House of Representatives in the second republic who was then elected on the platform of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN).

    Dr. Akerele Adu, an Ijare politician of note in Ifedore Local Government, was a former Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources. Insiders said he commands enormous respect in the communities.

    There is also Prof. Olu Aderounmu, a former provost of the Ondo State College of Education,Ikere-Ekiti, Engineer Ade Adetimehin, the Director of ACN Campaign Organisation in Ondo central senatorial district, who is from Idanre.

    He, apart from being the state Treasurer of ACN, is assigned to head the contact and mobilization committee of the party.

    In Ondo West, the home of the incumbent governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, also another seasoned politician and Special Adviser to Osun State Governor, Hon. Bola Ilori.

    He was a former Chairman of Alimosho local government in Lagos state, a former senior special assistant to Governor Mimiko and a mass mobiliser for ACN in Ondo State and particularly Ondo West.

    Also in Ondo West, the former PDP State Women’s Leader, Mrs Folake Akinjoko-Omojuwa, is now a chieftain of ACN, who is ready to tacke Mimiko in his ward during the October 20 election

    In PDP, in spite of its internal crisis occasioned by fractionalisation, we gathered that its leaders and followers in Ondo Central senatorial district are ready to work assiduously to regain the seat they lost to Mimiko and LP in February 2009 following the verdict of Appeal Court in Benin.

    It has also been rumoured that Mimiko is allegedly behind the wrangling within the PDP where a faction had publicly resolved not to work for the victory of its candidate, Chief Olusola Oke.

    It was also alleged that notable politicians like Prof. Olu Agbi, Segun Adegoke, and others are against Hon. Ebenezer Alabi’s executive commitee of the party. However, it has been observed that the present PDP leadership in the state has the support of former governor Olusegun Agagu.

    In the Central District, the former Deputy Governor, under Agagu, Chief Omolade Oluwateru, who is now the present Nigeria’s Ambassador to Uganda, is working in tandem with Alabi’s committee to ensure Oke’s victory

    We also have Hon Adedayo Omolafe, a former Akure South Local Government, former chairman of ALGON in the state and former aspirant, House of Representatives for Akure North/ South under the platform of PDP.

    There are also Chief Bisi Johnson, the former Chairman of Ondo West Local Government and Ondo State Local Government Service Commission (OSLGSC) who has sworn to tackle Mimiko in his home town.

    Other PDP top shots in the politics of Ondo Central are the immediate past Chairman of the party in the state, Dr. Tayo Dairo, Engr. Dele Osakuade from Ilara-mokin in ifedore local government. Others, like Prof. Olu Agbi, Senator Gbenga Ogunniya from Ondo West, Ademola Adegoroye and Segun Adegoke, who still claim they are in PDP but are alleged to be working for Mimiko secretly.

    The LP and its candidate, Governor Mimiko, in spite of the criticisms against the current administration, still have confidence in springing surprises that will enable them retain the seat beyond February 2013.

    The ruling party still relies on few chieftains in the party like commissioner for Works from Ilara Mokin who handles one of the juicy ministeries, Engr, Gboye Adegbenro, his counterpart from the same Ifedore Local Government, Engr. Clement, who is in charge of ministry of community development and hails from Igbara-Oke.

    There is also Hon. Abiodun Adesida, the former member, House of Representative, who recently decamped from PDP to LP, Mr. Sanya Oyinsan, incumbent Senator, Ayo Akinyelure, Chief of Staff (COS), Dr. Kola Ademujimi and Yele Ogundipe, a Mimiko’s Kinsman, who is presently the commissioner for finance.

    Our investigation shows that Ondo Central is very crucial to the three major political parties and their candidates, Dr Mimiko, Mr Akeredolu(SAN) and Chief Olusola Oke because of its bulk votes.

    Ondo South is believed to be the strongest among the three districts in Ondo State because of its strength which spread to the Atlantic Ocean.

    The area is dominated by prominent political leaders with vast experiences in politics.

    The district comprises six Local Government Areas which include Irele, Ilaje, Odigbo, Ile-Oluji/Okegbo, Ese-Odo and Okitipupa.

    Apart from the political strength of the district, the area is also believed to be the economic

    pillar of the state because of the deposit of oil minerals, particularly in Ilaje Local Government.

    Aside this, the area is blessed with Bitumen deposits which is rated as the second largest in

    the world with 42 billion barrel of Bitumen deposit located in Irele and Agbabu.

    The area has become permanent abode for politicians who are also professionals in different

    areas of economic and social development.

    However, Ondo South is also seen as determinant factor to decide the fate and chances of any governorship candidate in the gubernatorial election because of the caliber of politicians and the political value of the area.

    In recent times, the area has produced sons and daughters that occupy various political appointments like federal ministers, deputy governors, senators, federal commissioners, presidential aides and ambassadors.

    Between 1991 to1993, Dr Olusegun Agagu from Okitipupa Local Government was elected the

    Deputy Governor of Ondo State under Evang. Bamidele Olumiluas’ administration.

    Also,between 1999 and 2003, Late Barrister Afolabi Iyantan also from Okitipupa Local Government was elected as the Deputy Governor of the state during Late Chief Adebayo Adefaratis’ government.

    In 1999 , Dr Olusegun who contested the governorship election along with Late Chief Adebayo Adefarati was after his defeat appointed as a Federal Minster of various ministries under Chief Olusegun Obasanjos’ government, a position he occupied until 2003 when he later came back to contest against Chief Adebayo Adefarati in 2003 governorship election.

    As fate would have it, Agagu defeated Late Chief Adebayo Adefarati and in the process became the governor of the State.

    He governed the state from 2003 to 2009 when his government was sacked by court of appeal in Benin City.

    Agagu who is a leader in the PDP has control in South senatorial District and is desperate in sending the incumbent, Dr Olusegun Mimiko packing after october 20,election.

    His desperation, according to insiders, is to avenge the humiliation he suffered in February 2009, when the Court of Appeal in Benin City ordered him to vacate the office for Mimiko.

    Others include, Chief Mrs Osomo from Ese-Odo Local Government, who was appointed in 2003 as a Minister of Housing and Urban Development (2003 and 2005), Chief Olu Mafo from Ilaje Local Government, who was appointed a Special Adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo between 2003 to 2007.

    PDP governorship candidate, Chief Olusola Oke who hails from Ilaje Local Government is the immediate past National Legal Adviser to PDP and once a Commisioner Representing Ondo State on the Governing Board of NDDC from 2000 to 2004.

    He is now the gubernatorial candidate for PDP, and will put all arsenals together to secure majority votes from the District.

    However, ACN is no push over in the area with its aggressive campaigns particularly in Ilaje and Ese-odo axis.

    ACN governorship Candidate, Rotimi Akeredolu [SAN] is from Ese-Odo and may spring suprises in the area.

    Already, commoners in the riverine area who are aggrieved of the neglect of the area by Mimiko’s administration have been warning the ruling LP leaders against coming for campaigns in the area.

    In the District,there is also the incumbent Resident Electoral Commmissioner in Ogun State, Mr Sam Olumekun from Okitipupa Local Government.