HOW THEY STAND: Two ex-deputy governors, a medical psychiatrist in race for Ondo election

On November 16, voters in Ondo state will head to the polls to decide who will pilot the state’s affairs for the next four years. Nothing is certain yet. Either the status quo will remain or change.

In the last few months, political gladiators in and outside the state have been making moves to woo voters.

However, the political tension in Ondo is not as heated as the September governorship election in neighbouring Edo state, where Monday Okpebholo was elected governor.

Unlike the Edo election, the build-up to the Ondo election has been relatively peaceful and devoid of heated political dramas.

Two former deputy governors — Lucky Aiyedatiwa, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Agboola Ajayi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) — have been tipped as favourites to win the Ondo election. The two politicians are not newcomers to the state’s political system.

Ajayi, 56, served as the deputy governor of Rotimi Akeredolu, then governor of the state, from 2017 to 2021. He fell out with Akeredolu in the build-up to the 2020 governorship election.

Ajayi defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to contest the election but lost in the primary to Eyitayo Jegede. He then moved to the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), where he clinched the party’s governorship ticket. Akeredolu also picked Aiyedatiwa as his running mate.

The former deputy governor came a distant third in the election, which was won by the joint ticket of Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa.

Following Akeredolu’s death in December, Aiyedatiwa became Ondo governor.

Although Aiyedatiwa and Ajayi are favourites to win the Ondo election, Abass Mimiko, candidate of the ZLP, is an underdog in the race.

TheCable further provides a lowdown on the three major candidates

AIYEDATIWA: THE ‘LUCKY’ GOVERNOR EYEING A FULL FOUR-YEAR TERM

Born on January 12, 1965, Aiyedatiwa hails from Obenla, an oil-producing community in Ilaje LGA of the state. He is a businessman and former commissioner of the Niger Delta Development Commission.

Aiyedatiwa attended Saint Peter’s UNA Primary School, Obenla and Ikosi High School, Lagos. He obtained a Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) from Lagos State College of Education in 1986, and he also got an advanced diploma from the University of Ibadan. In 2013, he obtained a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom.

Fate smiled at the former deputy governor in December 2023 after Akeredolu’s death. Aiyedatiwa was immediately sworn in as the new governor of the state to complete the four-year term of his late principal.

Although Aiyedatiwa has repeatedly denied the insinuations, the relationship between Aiyedatiwa and Akeredolu had turned sour in the dying moments of the late governor.

Political analysts have argued that Aiyedatiwa, who was believed to be a political neophyte, would not have gotten the governorship ticket of APC if Akeredolu was alive. Olusola Oke, the most influential politician from Aiyedatiwa’s LGA, was said to be Akeredolu’s favourite. Nonetheless, Aiyedatiwa beat Oke, who came in third, during the APC primary election to clinch the ticket. Oke, who was said to have brought the governor into state politics, has since collapsed his political structure to support Aiyedatiwa.

At the moment, the governor is unarguably the strongest candidate in the race owing to the incumbency power and the popularity of the APC in the state. APC has been a force to reckon with in Ondo since the 2016 election.

Aiyedatiwa also enjoys the support of top APC chieftains in and outside Ondo.

However, it appears that the governor is yet to pacify some of Akeredolu’s loyalists, who were not pleased with the politicking that took place when the former governor was sick.

In what appears to be a political move to pacify Akeredolu’s kinsmen, Aiyedatiwa selected Olayide Adelami as his deputy governor and running mate. Adelami hails from Owo, the same town as late Akeredolu.

Speaking during a campaign rally, Aiyedatiwa promised to carry out more infrastructural projects across the state, if elected governor.

He said his administration has touched every sector of the state in the last 10 months, adding that he would do more if elected.

Critics of Aiyedatiwa have argued that governance and election are not based on luck. The question in the minds of many is, “Will Lucky be lucky this time around?”

AJAYI: THE CANDIDATE WITH THE MOST POLITICAL EXPERIENCE

Born on September 24, 1968, Ajayi hails from the Kiribo community in Ese-Odo LGA of Ondo state.

He had his primary and secondary education at Community High School in Kiribo and Methodist High School, Okitipupa, after which he bagged a law degree at Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo state, and was called to bar in 2010.

Before he became Akeredolu’s deputy governor, he had been in politics as far back as 1988, when he was the Social Democratic Party chairman of Old Opoi Ward 1. He later moved to PDP and served in different political positions in the LGA. He was elected as the chairman of Ese-Odo LGA from 2004 to 2007. Ajayi was also elected as a lawmaker to represent Ilaje/Ese-Odo in the house of representatives from 2007 to 2011. In Ondo south, many call him the grassroots politician.

This is the second time Ajayi will be on the ballot for the Ondo governorship election. The former deputy governor contested the 2020 election under the umbrella of the ZLP. He came a distant third with 69,127 votes.

This time around, Ajayi is contesting the election under the platform of a major political party — the PDP.

To become the governor of the state, Ajayi must beat his closest challenger, Aiyedatiwa. The duo are from the same senatorial district — Ondo south. Ajayi hails from Ese-Odo LGA, while Aiyedatiwa is from Ilaje LGA. Ilaje/Ese-Odo used to be one LGA until they were separated.

Since the votes from Ondo south will be divided between Ajayi and Aiyedatiwa, the two other senatorial districts — Ondo north and Ondo central — will play a deciding role in the race.

Speaking during a recent debate, Ajayi accused Aiyedatiwa of “destroying” Akeredolu’s Amotetun legacy and that the security of the state has deteriorated under the incumbent governor.

“I must give it to our late boss; he had the courage and boldness to say we must establish Amotekun which is more or less a state police arrangement,” Ajayi had said.

“But unfortunately these days, that legacy is almost destroyed by the incumbent governor.”

Ajayi said he would strengthen the Amotetun security outfit with modern equipment if elected governor.

WILL ABBAS MIMIKO ACHIEVE HIS BROTHER’S FEAT?

Mimiko, from Ondo town, is a senior consultant psychiatrist and psychologist. He obtained his bachelor of medicine and surgery degrees from the University of Lagos in 1987. He worked in the United States and is said to be board-certified in psychiatry and neurology in America. He is also a published poet.

Mimiko will surely pray to attain what his elder brother, Olusegun Mimiko, achieved during the 2007 and 2012 Ondo governorship elections with the LP.

This time around, another Mimiko is eyeing the number one seat in Ondo under the platform of the ZLP. Although he is a political newbie, he is hoping to pull out a surprise move to defeat other candidates.

Recently, Mimiko said he does not need his brother’s endorsement to win the November 16 election, and what he needs is the endorsement of the people of the state.

In his manifesto, Mimiko promised to implement the seven Ks agenda if elected governor.

The seven Ks initiatives were worded in the Yoruba language. The agenda seeks to end hunger, provide clean water, create jobs, and ensure quality education and healthcare in Ondo state.

However, Mimiko is from Ondo central. His chances are dim with the two major candidates coming from Ondo south, where the next governor is expected to come from based on the unwritten power rotational system in the state.

Only time will tell whether he will pull a surprise like his brother, Olusegun Mimiko, a former governor of the state, who won the election under the platform of the Labour Party (LP).

OTHER CANDIDATES IN THE RACE:

Ebiseni Nehemiah — Labour Party

Falaiye Ajibola — Accord Party

Omolere Akinuli — Action Alliance

Ajayi Adekunle — African Action Congress

Akinnodi Ayodeji – African Democratic Party

Popoola Olatunji — All Progressives Grand Alliance

Ogunfeyimi Isaac — Allied Peoples Movement

Fadoju Amos Babatunde — Action Peoples Party

Olugbenga Omogbemi — New Nigeria Peoples Party

Ajaunoko Jenyo — National Rescue Movement

Alli Babatunde Francis — Peoples Redemption Party

Akingboye Benson Bamidele — Social Democratic Party

Adegoke Kehinde Paul — Youth Party

Akinmurele Otiloloju — Young Progressives Party