All Is Calm as Ondo Residents Go to Polls Tomorrow

There is relative calm throughout the length and breadth of Ondo State, twenty-four hours before the residents go to polls to elect a new governor. This is a sharp difference from a similar off-cycle election in Edo State two months ago.

What is not clear as of now is the level of participation in the election of tomorrow. There has been a declining voter turnout in the elections, otherwise known as voter apathy sequel to the trust deficit in the outcome of elections aftermath of 2023 general elections.

The election is predicted to be a two-horse race between the incumbent Governor Lucky Ayedatiwa candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Mr. Agboola Ajayi, the candidate of the People Democratic Party (PDP). The position is however been contested by 17 political parties. Three of the candidates stepped down for the Governor on Thursday.

Though more than two million people registered to participate in Ondo State, only 1.7 million people collected their Permanent Voter cards. It is projected that less than 30 percent of those who picked up their votes would come out to vote in the governorship election.

INEC rules say all campaigns end on Thursday, but the posters of the different candidates and political parties are still everywhere. The ruling APC held its mega rally on Wednesday, attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima while the leading opposition party, the PDP held its own on Thursday.

INEC announced that its Supervising National Commissioner for Ondo, Ogun, and Osun States, Prof. Kunle Ajayi (in glasses), and the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Ondo State.

Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola supervised the deployment of important materials for the election to the 18 local government areas. INEC said the release of the materials was co-signed by the two top officials. The documents were the Ward and Local Government Area (LGA) Collation Result Sheets at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Akure, in the presence of stakeholders to further reassure them of the transparency of the process.

“By 1.30 pm today, all sensitive materials for the Ondo State Governorship election, scheduled for Saturday 16th November 2024, have been moved from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Akure to all the State’s 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs) under security escort, accompanied by party agents, observers and the media,” INEC stated on its X handle.

Representatives of political parties, security agencies, and other key stakeholders witnessed the exercise. “We are committed to transparency and are making every effort to ensure the voting process is as smooth as possible,” Babalola stated.

The Defence Headquarters announced the deployment of troops to the border areas and flashpoints in a specialised effort to support the Nigeria Police Force towards having a peaceful election.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Buba Edward, said the deployment is to deter interferences with the voting process and to ward off troublemakers.

“Troops are deployed in strength to assist the police in Ondo State for the off-cycle governorship election on November 16. The military presence is to provide security, enabling voters to cast their ballots without fear of harassment.

“Indeed, troops’ presence is to ensure the security of citizens, enabling them to cast their votes without any form of harassment or intimidation while keeping mischief-makers at bay. The NAF is already engaged in flying sensitive electoral material in support of INEC,” Edward stated.

On Thursday, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, visited Ondo State to oversee the final preparations and assess the readiness of military personnel.

He later met with security agencies’ leaders at the 32 Artillery Brigade in Akure, where he commended their coordinated approach towards the election and urged them to maintain professionalism, avoid misconduct, and support a smooth electoral process.

To ensure a peaceful poll, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has deployed 22,239 officers to maintain security across the state before, during, and after the exercise.

The IG assured residents of a violence-free poll, stating that the police force would be fully prepared to prevent any breach of peace and issued a restriction on all vehicular movement in the state from 6 am to 6 pm on Election Day.

Those exempted are essential services such as ambulances, media personnel, and fire services, while the use of sirens by unauthorised vehicles was also prohibited.

IG Egbetokun banned security escorts from accompanying high-profile individuals to polling and collation centres. Deputy Inspector-General of Police Sylvester Alabi has been tasked with overseeing police security for the election. He will be supported by AIG Bennett Igweh and CP Tunji Disu.

The IG instructions were conveyed by the Force spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi. He said: “As part of the security framework, there will be a restriction of all vehicular movements on roads, waterways, and other means of transportation from 6 am to 6 pm on Election Day, except those on essential services, such as ambulances, media officials, fire services, and other accredited media.

The DIG assured that they will “provide a level-playing ground for all candidates irrespective of party affiliation or status, ensure a secured environment for a successful and peaceful conduct of elections throughout the state and provision of adequate security for election officials and materials from all take-off points to their respective destinations and vice versa.”

He warned against the “possession of any offensive weapon or wearing any dress or having any facial or other decorations calculated to intimidate voters, exhibiting, wearing or tendering any notice, symbol, photograph or party card referring to the election.”

Other offences listed include using any vehicle bearing the colour or symbol of a political party, loitering without lawful excuse after voting or being refused to vote, snatching or destroying any election materials, blaring sirens, and convening, holding or attending any public meetings during the election hours.