Ondo Gov Election: INEC Commences Distribution Of Sensitive Materials
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced distributing sensitive materials to local government areas in Ondo State ahead of the gubernatorial election scheduled for Saturday, November 16, 2024.
INEC announced this on Thursday in a statement posted on its X handle, revealing that the distribution of sensitive materials began at 1:30 p.m.
According to the electoral body, party agents, observers, and the media witnessed the movement of the materials from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Akure to all 18 local government areas of the state.
“By 1:30 p.m. 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,” the statement read.
The Commission also disclosed that the Supervising National Commissioner for Ondo, Ogun, and Osun States, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, and the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ondo State, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, countersigned the Collation Result Sheets for the Ward and Local Government Areas at the CBN in Akure, with all stakeholders present.
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The 2024 Ondo State gubernatorial election is being described as a two-horse race between two former deputy governors, Lucky Aiyedatiwa and Agboola Ajayi.
The incumbent governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is running for a full term after assuming office last year. Formerly the deputy governor, Aiyedatiwa succeeded the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who passed away in December 2023, leaving Aiyedatiwa in office.
Agboola Ajayi, representing the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), will also be on the ballot. He previously served as deputy governor under Rotimi Akeredolu from 2017 to 2021 before the two parted ways in the lead-up to the 2020 governorship election. Ajayi joined the PDP to seek its gubernatorial ticket but lost to Eyitayo Jegede in the primaries.
He eventually contested under the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) but finished a distant third. Ajayi now hopes to leverage his experience and popularity to unseat the incumbent.
The election will also feature 15 other candidates from various political parties, adding to the intensity of the contest.
