The Edo chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has accused Governor Monday Okpebholo of fueling anarchy in the state.

The Chairman Caretaker Committee of the PDP in Edo State, Dr Tony Aziegbemi made the accusation against Governor Okpebholo on Tuesday.

Aziegbemi expressed worry over what he described as very troubling and disturbing developments in the state under the All Progressives Congress (APC) led administration, which, if not appropriately addressed, could spell doom for democracy.

Briefing newsmen in Benin, Aziegbemi accused the state governor of running a government that is not interested in accountability and transparency but is promoting anarchy to distort efforts at reclaiming the mandate duly given to the PDP and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, in the September 21 governorship election.

Aziegbemi said that Okpebholo, through his actions and inactions, is setting a dangerous tone for crisis and a breach of public peace since assuming office just 14 days ago.

He said, “It has become imperative to draw the attention of the public and other stakeholders to the very troubling and disturbing developments in Edo State under the All Progressives Congress-led administration, which, if not appropriately addressed, could spell doom for our democracy and serve as a recipe for anarchy and instability, thereby threatening the peace, progress, and security of our dear state.

“It is most unfortunate and disappointing that in just 14 days in office, the governor-elect, Monday Okpebholo, through his actions and inactions, has succeeded in setting a dangerous tone for crisis and breach of public peace.

“We are worried that this troubling precedent may just be an ignition for a conflagration that may well be avoided.”

He alleged that just last week, the APC mobilised thugs to attack the PDP Secretariat on Airport Road in Benin City in their desperation to intimidate and frustrate the party’s efforts at reclaiming the mandate duly given to the PDP and Ighodalo in the September 21 governorship election.

Aziegbemi added that, in the same manner, political thugs working for the government as “government vehicle recovery agents,” led by a chieftain of the APC in the state, broke into the private residence of the immediate past governor of the state, HE Godwin Obaseki, in Gestapo style, assaulting and harassing security personnel at the premises.

“This is most reprehensible and unacceptable, and we urge relevant security agencies to thoroughly investigate these barbaric attacks and ensure that the perpetrators of these lawless and dastardly acts are brought to book.”

Aziegbemi, however, called on all Edo people, civil society organisations, and well-meaning Nigerians to beam their attention on the Okpebholo administration to prevent a descent into avoidable chaos, with dire consequences for the peace and security of the state.

In reaction to the allegations, Mr Fred Itua, Chief Press Secretary to the Edo State Governor, said that the factional chapter of the PDP in Edo State is yet to accept the clear reality that it has assumed the arduous role of an opposition party, adding that the Governor of Edo State is in a hurry to develop the state.

“Since his inauguration a fortnight ago, he has remained undaunted, living up to the people’s expectations.

“Barely one week in office, he addressed and solved what the Godwin Obaseki-led administration could not confront in eight years.

“He has banned the activities of touts across various markets in Edo State, hired by the Obaseki-led administration,” Itua said.

The Labour Party (LP) has vowed to wrestle the presidency from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027 when next the general election takes place in Nigeria.

LP made this vow on Wednesday, saying it would continue its push for the presidency by not relenting in strengthening unity and collaboration within the party to drive the needed change in Nigeria.

The party further said it would not stop until it leveraged the powers available in Aso Rock through an LP presidency in 2027 to ensure that Nigerians are safe and prosperous.

The Director General of LP Directorate of Mobilization and Integration, Marcel Ngogbehei stated this while addressing the Labour Party National Youth Leaders Conference.

Ngogbehei in his address also charged the youth with unity of purpose to bring about positive change in the country.

He further emphasized the importance of unity and collaboration among the youth especially in the grassroots.

“It is an honor to address this gathering of dedicated and passionate young leaders who represent the future of our political movement. The energy, creativity, and commitment you bring to our party are not only inspiring but essential as we work to build a stronger and more inclusive Labour Party and Nigeria.

“Our nation is at a pivotal point, and your role as youth leaders cannot be understated. You are not just the voice of tomorrow—you are the force of today.

“Your involvement, your ideas, and your actions are shaping the political landscape, bringing fresh perspectives and the courage to challenge the status quo. We must ensure that the concerns, aspirations, and visions of young people are not only heard but are central to our policies and strategies.”

He told the youth that their leadership at the grassroots level is crucial in fostering unity in the country and it is through their efforts that the political stakeholders can bring about the inclusive change required and bridge the gaps between different stakeholders and communities.

Ngogbehei, however, expressed the commitment of the Directorate to supporting the youth leaders through training and the provision of working tools and the platforms needed for advocacy.

After months of intense campaigns and political intrigues, Ondo residents have chosen their governor for the next four years – Lucky Aiyedatiwa. 

The Returning Officer for the election Olayemi Akinwumi, who is also the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Lokoja, Kogi State declared Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner of the election on Sunday, extending the governor’s stay at the Government House in Alagbaka, Akure.

Aiyedatiwa, the incumbent governor of the Sunshine State polled 366,781 votes to defeat his closest rival and a former deputy governor of the state Ajayi Agboola who flew the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag. He scored 117,845 votes, more than twice lower than the APC candidate.

“That Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa of the APC having satisfied the requirement of the law is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected,” the returning officer said at exactly 2:30 pm at the INEC collation centre in Akure.

The declaration came hours after the collation of results for the election began in the early hours of Sunday. Although the collation centre went on breaks, the APC took a commanding lead with over 200,000 votes ahead of the PDP.

The final results showed that the APC won the election in a landslide, clearing all 18 local government areas.

Aiyedatiwa’s Ascension To Power

Having been declared the winner of the election, Aiyedatiwa is set to extend his stay at the helm of affairs in the oil-rich state. He – a former deputy governor – ascended to power on December 27th, 2023 after Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s death.

Akeredolu died on the same day after a lengthy battle with illness and had before his demise transmitted power to Aiyedatiwa.

He thereafter won the APC’s ticket for the 2024 governorship election in Ondo, pitting him against 17 other candidates including Agboola who was also a former deputy to Akeredolu during his first term in office.

Aiyedatiwa faced stiff competition from Agboola in the leadup to the election but in his campaigns, he promised a better economy and welfare package for workers across the state. The governor pointed to his signing of N73,000 as minimum wage  – higher than the N70,000 earmarked by the Federal Government –  as a testament to this.

PDP Alleges Compromise

Voting on election day began early with INEC officials arriving at the polling units at dawn. The exercise was largely peaceful with little or known cases of violence.

Governor Aiyedatiwa after casting his vote expressed confidence about his victory, hinging his hopes on the good “works” of his government.

“I believe I’m in an advantaged position to win this election because of the work that I have done in the last 10 months since I assumed office as the governor of the state,” he said.

“We traversed the entire 18 local governments; and visited communities all across.”

But the PDP candidate has accused INEC of compromising the election. He accused the electoral body of deliberating slowing the process –  a ploy to rig the poll.

“The system is compromised and I have had a series of calls today. People are complaining about vote buying and the BVAS is not working,” he said on Saturday after voting.

“It is a very shameful exercise and I think Nigerians should just call on the chairman of the electoral commission Prof Mahmood Yakubu. If you cannot do the job, please just honourably resign. He should resign. This is embarrassing. It [election] is totally compromised.”

Observers Decry Vote-Buying

Though the election went on smoothly, observers believe it was marred by vote-buying across the state. They said the trend went on “openly and unchecked”.

“Situation Room notes the trend of persistent vote trading during elections in Nigeria,” the Situation Room said in its assessment of the poll.

“This situation has continued unabatedly, and heightened in this election. It is worrying that, despite the high presence of security personnel at the polling units, vote trading went on openly and unchecked during the voting hours.”

An elderly woman speaking live on TVC News openly admitted to collecting money in exchange for her vote during the 2024 Ondo State governorship election.

The woman speaking in Yoruba said on Saturday in polling unit in Igbotako, “Ati dibo, Ibo onlo, nirowo, niro ese, ko si wahala, ati gbowo,” which translates to, “I have voted; voting is smooth, there is no problem, and I have collected money.”

Her admission came amid widespread efforts by security agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS), to prevent vote-buying during the elections.

Meanwhile, YIAGA Africa, a non-profit civic hub, speaking on vote-buying, said it is a notorious fact and an open secret that in Ondo State there is a culture of “Dibo ko se obe” meaning vote and “cook soup”

In a separate incident reported by The Guardian, DSS operatives arrested a suspected vote buyer in Ondo.

The man, reportedly in his 40s, was intercepted while driving a Toyota Camry. A search of the vehicle revealed two bags of cash and a cutlass hidden in the trunk.

The suspect, who denied knowledge of the items, was taken into custody by the DSS for further investigation.

Security personnel had been strategically deployed across the state to ensure a credible and peaceful election.

The DSS, along with other security agencies, had increased efforts to enforce electoral laws and maintain peace in Ondo State.

The State Police Command has said drones will be used to monitor the state’s governorship election taking place today (Saturday).

In a statement on its X handle on Saturday morning, the Command said drones would be flying around the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office and also some polling units.

It urged the public not to be afraid if they see drones flying around.

“If you see a Drone flying around INEC Office and some of the polling units, don’t get scared, the drones are Police Drones for election monitoring. Thanks.” the Command wrote.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday said that it is ready for the governorship election in Ondo State on November 16.

INEC National Commissioner Supervising Ondo, Ogun and Osun States, Professor Kunle Ajayi, made the announcement on Channels Television’s Politics Today in Akure.

Ajayi told the Ondo electorate that INEC won’t disappoint them as they file out their numbers to elect a new governor.

“We have done our own work; we are proud of what we have done and we will not disappoint the people of Ondo State,” Ajayi said.

“I want to assure you that everything will go well. As of 3 pm, all the Registered Areas (RAs) had all their sensitive materials. The next thing is to move to the Polling Unit (PU). I toured some of the RAs this afternoon.”

The Guardian had previously reported that INEC on Thursday distributed sensitive materials to the 18 Local Government Area of Ondo State ahead of the Nov. 16 governorship election in the state.

Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ondo State, monitored the exercise at the Akure branch of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Babalola said that the early distribution of the sensitive materials was to show that the commission was ready for the election.

The REC said that the sensitive materials were being distributed to ensure that no ward or polling unit was omitted.

“We promise that the commission will be transparent in the conduct of the election. You can see that the distribution exercise is going on very smoothly.The farthest local governments have started moving to their locations. All the other local governments have received their materials; they are checking and loading the vehicles.” Babalola said.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Police Force has deployed approximately 34,000 operatives for the Ondo State governorship election scheduled for Saturday, November 16, 2024, according to Abiodun Alabi, the Deputy Inspector General of Police Coordinating Election Security, who disclosed this to Channels Television on Friday.

Alabi said measures have been taken to avoid infiltration of thugs or unauthorised persons during the off-cycle poll, noting that all the 3,933 polling units of the state would be well covered, stressing that police operatives have been deployed across the wards and local government areas.

“By tomorrow, all the 3,933 polling units will be well covered,” he said. “We have about 34,000 police officers on the ground.”

Three gubernatorial candidates have withdrawn from the Saturday’s election, in Ondo State after endorsing Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The candidates made the disclosure during a solidarity visit to Aiyedatiwa by Dr Ajibola Falaye, the candidate of the Accord Party, who spoke on behalf of the three parties on Thursday in Akure.

The other two are the governorship candidate of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), Mr Jenyo Ataunoko and the deputy governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mr Olaide Rasheed Ibrahim.

The governorship candidate of the ADC Mr Adeyemi Nejo, had earlier declared support for Aiyedatiwa.

Falaye said their decisions to back the governor for Saturday’s election was based on observations of his longstanding commitment to public service, since his time as the deputy governor.

“We have been watching him, and his doors are always open to all. The state has been experiencing relative peace under his watch, which reflects his commitment to safeguarding the lives of our people.

“We see the infrastructural development that has taken place even within this short period. It is clear that the governor is actively working for the people.

“This Saturday, we will turn our commitment into votes. We will vote for continuity in Ondo State,” he said.

Responding, Aiyedatiwa expressed gratitude for the endorsement, calling it a quality decision made out of goodwill by the candidates and their parties.

“I didn’t call for this, but I am grateful that my colleagues in the race have voluntarily identified with my mandate and are ready to mobilise their supporters to vote for the APC,” he said.