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The much anticipated Gubernatorial elections in Ondo elections has come and gone. It was a firece battle for candidates of the APC, PDP, and AD. Barrister Rotimi Akeredolu of the All progressives carried the day. He is the new governor-elect defeating his rivals, with victory at 14 local governments out out 18 in the state. Here are a few things we can learn from the elections.
Ondo state Governor-elect, Rotimi Akeredolu
1. Federal Might: No doubt, the Federal powers threw a solid support behind Rotimi Akeredolu. APC is the party at the central – that had all the 'mercenaries' at hand to win the elections.
2. Akeredolu Worked Hard to Earn these votes: How we choose to define this hard work really do not matter, but pulling wins in 14 LGAs of 18 LGAs in the state shows some level of hard work. Since his failure at his first attempt at the governorship in 2012, He began his 2016 campaign nearly immediately after by relocating to Ondo State. He got in tune with those he wanted to lead, and began his groundwork far in advance.
3. Jimoh Ibrahim 'The Spoiler' Factor: Being called in some quarters as 'The Spoiler', business mogul Jimoh Ibrahim's role can be said to be a major contributing factor to Akeredolu's victory. Jimoh Ibrahim, a PDP Guber candidate was sacked two days to the elections by the Supreme court reinstating Eyitayo Jegede as the candidate of the PDP. Accpeting the supreme court ruling, Jimoh Ibrahim transported his supporters to the tent of the APC, urging them to vote massively for Rotimi Akeredolu. Jimoh Ibrahim did not only destabilise the PDP in the state, but he ensured incumbent Governor Mimiko did not retain the state for the PDP.
4. Desperation of Olusola Oke: The sheer desperation of Olusola Oke could be said to be the reason for his loss at the polls. The candidate of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) was unsuccessful with the PDP ticket in 2012, moved to the APC in 2015 and contested to be the governor but lost out to Rotimi Akeredolu at the primaries. With no hope for him at the primaries and APC, he moved to the Alliance for Democracy. Now that he has lost out at the Guber polls, only time will tell if he will defect to the APC or PDP.
5. Well, Debates Seem Not to Matter: Ondo state governor-elect, Rotimi Akeredolu was absent at the Governorship debate organised by Enough Is Enough Nigeria and Channels TV. His campaign team blamed the absence on wrap-up grass-root campaign in some parts of the state. It can now be said to be a trend for major politicians to miss debates, and it proved to work for Akeredolu. President Mohammadu Buhari also missed the Presidential debate before the elections in 2014.
6. Mimiko's antecedents caused failure for Jegede: The failure of Mimiko as governor of the state to pay workers for five months before the elections could be said to be a major setback for Jegede, Mimiko's annointed candidate.
7. 'Jagaban' Tinubu losing powers as the godfather: Ondo people clearly showed Tinubu that he cannot influence their politics and seem to be that Jagaban is fast losing his powers at the king maker in Nigeria. Following the removal of the Ondo APC chairman, Isaac Kekemeke and two postponements of the primaries, the coast was now clear for Akeredolu to emerge the party’s flagbearer in the state by a narrow margin. Soon after, Tinubu wrote to demand the resignation of the APC chairman, John Oyegun, and stayed away from Akeredolu’s rallies. With a resounding mandate, Akeredolu is not under Tinubu’s influence. We could look back on the Ondo elections as the start of the end of Tinubu’s dominance in the South West.
Ondo state Governor-elect, Rotimi Akeredolu
1. Federal Might: No doubt, the Federal powers threw a solid support behind Rotimi Akeredolu. APC is the party at the central – that had all the 'mercenaries' at hand to win the elections.
2. Akeredolu Worked Hard to Earn these votes: How we choose to define this hard work really do not matter, but pulling wins in 14 LGAs of 18 LGAs in the state shows some level of hard work. Since his failure at his first attempt at the governorship in 2012, He began his 2016 campaign nearly immediately after by relocating to Ondo State. He got in tune with those he wanted to lead, and began his groundwork far in advance.
3. Jimoh Ibrahim 'The Spoiler' Factor: Being called in some quarters as 'The Spoiler', business mogul Jimoh Ibrahim's role can be said to be a major contributing factor to Akeredolu's victory. Jimoh Ibrahim, a PDP Guber candidate was sacked two days to the elections by the Supreme court reinstating Eyitayo Jegede as the candidate of the PDP. Accpeting the supreme court ruling, Jimoh Ibrahim transported his supporters to the tent of the APC, urging them to vote massively for Rotimi Akeredolu. Jimoh Ibrahim did not only destabilise the PDP in the state, but he ensured incumbent Governor Mimiko did not retain the state for the PDP.
4. Desperation of Olusola Oke: The sheer desperation of Olusola Oke could be said to be the reason for his loss at the polls. The candidate of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) was unsuccessful with the PDP ticket in 2012, moved to the APC in 2015 and contested to be the governor but lost out to Rotimi Akeredolu at the primaries. With no hope for him at the primaries and APC, he moved to the Alliance for Democracy. Now that he has lost out at the Guber polls, only time will tell if he will defect to the APC or PDP.
5. Well, Debates Seem Not to Matter: Ondo state governor-elect, Rotimi Akeredolu was absent at the Governorship debate organised by Enough Is Enough Nigeria and Channels TV. His campaign team blamed the absence on wrap-up grass-root campaign in some parts of the state. It can now be said to be a trend for major politicians to miss debates, and it proved to work for Akeredolu. President Mohammadu Buhari also missed the Presidential debate before the elections in 2014.
6. Mimiko's antecedents caused failure for Jegede: The failure of Mimiko as governor of the state to pay workers for five months before the elections could be said to be a major setback for Jegede, Mimiko's annointed candidate.
7. 'Jagaban' Tinubu losing powers as the godfather: Ondo people clearly showed Tinubu that he cannot influence their politics and seem to be that Jagaban is fast losing his powers at the king maker in Nigeria. Following the removal of the Ondo APC chairman, Isaac Kekemeke and two postponements of the primaries, the coast was now clear for Akeredolu to emerge the party’s flagbearer in the state by a narrow margin. Soon after, Tinubu wrote to demand the resignation of the APC chairman, John Oyegun, and stayed away from Akeredolu’s rallies. With a resounding mandate, Akeredolu is not under Tinubu’s influence. We could look back on the Ondo elections as the start of the end of Tinubu’s dominance in the South West.