Inec makes final preparations ahead of Ondo polls on Saturday

As political parties conclude their campaigns ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo State, normal socio-economic activities continue in the state. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that the sensitive materials for the election have arrived in the state capital, Akure, and are now in the custody of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

A total of 17 parties are participating in the election, with over 1.7 million registered voters. The All Progressives Congress (APC) is reportedly working tirelessly to finalize logistics for the election. A party source revealed that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the APC candidate, returned from Abuja recently to ensure preparations for the final stages of the campaign were in place. The national leaders of the APC are also expected to arrive in the state this week.

Meanwhile, residents have reported receiving food items from political parties during the campaign, a strategy used to woo voters, particularly targeting low-income households. Items like rice, garri, beans, sugar, salt, groundnut oil, and noodles are being distributed through community leaders. While some residents criticized this practice as a corrupt attempt to sway votes, APC spokesman Alex Kalejaiye denied his party’s involvement in food distribution, insisting the APC is focused on engaging voters through direct campaigning.

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INEC confirmed that the sensitive materials for the November 16 election were delivered to Akure by the Nigerian Air Force and are under the custody of the CBN. INEC’s Assistant Director, Dr. Temitope Akanmu, stated that the materials would be inspected on Wednesday before being dispatched to local government headquarters for distribution to polling units. Arrangements for logistics have been completed, with transport unions pledging support for the movement of materials to various local governments.

Civil society stakeholders have urged INEC to ensure effective logistical deployment to avoid delays and prevent election malpractices. Aliyah Ahmad of the Coalition of All Civil Society Organisations in Ondo emphasized that efficient logistics are crucial to ensuring a smooth election and promoting transparency.

Governor Aiyedatiwa’s campaign gained further support as the state chapters of the Association of Nigerian Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPS) and the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools in Nigeria (ASUSN) endorsed his candidacy. Thousands of teachers from across Ondo attended a solidarity visit to Aiyedatiwa, where the governor expressed his commitment to addressing teachers’ welfare, including transportation and other needs.

In a separate development, former PDP caretaker chairman in Osun, Dr. Adekunle Akindele, urged Ondo voters to protect their votes during the election. Speaking in Okitipupa, he called on voters to support PDP candidate Agboola Ajayi and ensure their votes are not tampered with, emphasizing the need for vigilance during the election.