WHO WINS ONDO ELECTIONS?

The forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Ondo state is a complete test of powers within the All Progressives congress. This has generated quite some tension within most of the political parties As at today, also the proof of the weakening of the strengths of the Peoples democratic party became extremely clearer. The PDP candidate Eyitayo Jegede had his name removed by the Independent National Electoral Commission very few weeks to the elections to be replaced by Jimoh Ibrahim. All efforts to get the matter resolved in court before the governorship elections day proved abortive. That’s food for thought for PDP and bye bye to Ondo state for 4 years except something happens.

The crack in the APC is becoming more and more conspicuous. Besides President Muhammadu Buhari ,Governors support at gubernatorial campaign is a normal ritual for the APC leadership but today Asiwaju Bola Tinubu,  Lagos Governor Akinwumi Ambode and Osun state governor Rauf Aregbesola could not  be present at the Akure campaign ground of the APC. The other southwest APC governors are already considered by many to belong to the Chiarman Odigie Oyegun group. Remember Ayo Fayose and Rauf Aregbesola once had a meeting in September this year where comments were made on a possible realignment of forces.

This contest between Sola Oke of the Alliance for Democracy and Akeredolu of the All Progressive Congress is actually about whether Odigie Oyegun’s leadership without the Tinubu faction can win elections particularly in the southwest. If Oyegun can achieve this, then it is a litmus test to prove that Tinubu is not very relevant as his so called south west states have been taken right under his nostrils.

But the political clout of Oke and his acceptability by the people of Ondo state at this last minute has been with a bang. And I think the incumbent governor Olusegun Mimiko has contested elections in Ondo state for so long that he understands and knows from the political temperature who is going to win.  I knew in 2003 how Mimiko backed out on Chief Adefarati 3 weeks to the election and baba lost the elections due to the heavy impact of his cross carpeting. However INEC must stay apolitical and non-partisan as Ondo citizens might resist any form of rigging with physical confrontation. None must also tell us that rigging took place anywhere. Candidates must get their representatives at every polling booths and get all malpractices recorded on phone, wristwatch etc. There will be no space for medicine after death!

  Except a miracle happens, this keenly contested election is about leading to the demise of the PDP in Ondo state but a realignment of an old force that left Ondo state leadership and other southwest states  in 2003. This may be the beginning of the new realignment!