#OndoDecides: Parties Clash As Election Commence

Onenigeriablog.com observed that voting has commenced in many parts of Ondo State as at the time of reporting. But ahead of the governorship election, there were violent clashes among rival political party supporters in Akure and Owo on Thursday night and Friday.

This is happening as a total of 1,280,580 voters with Permanent Voter Cards are preparing to choose the next governor of the state among the 28 contestants in today’s governorship election.

Among the major contestants are
Eyitayo Jegede of the PDP; Rotimi Akeredolu of the APC; Olu Agunloye of the SDP; and Olusola Oke of the AD.

According to Punch, the governorship candidate of New Nigeria People’s Party, Dr. Oluwadare Bada withdrew from the race on Friday.

Director of Media, Bada’s Campaign Committee, Mr. Abiodun Oluwarotimi, confirmed the NNPP candidate’s withdrawal in a statement in Akure.

He cited pressure from his primary constituency as reason, while calling on his supporters and agents to withdraw from further participation in the election. A source close to Bada’s camp, however, said that his withdrawal from the contest was part of a move to support Oke.

Meanwhile, the police on Friday announced that it would enforce restriction of movement between 11.59pm on Friday and 8.00pm on Saturday.

Jimoh Ibrahim’s vehicles, offices destroyed
Despite not taking part in the race, Jimoh Ibrahim’s campaign vehicles, billboards and offices were destroyed in Owo, Ondo and some other parts of the state on Thursday night.

Ibrahim was formerly the governorship candidate of the PDP in the state before the Court of Appeal ordered INEC to substitute his name for Jegede’s.

Mimiko alleges APC plans to rig

Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, on Friday alleged that the APC was planning to use the federal might to rig the state governorship election, saying that the PDP would reject any attempt to manipulate the process.

The governor also alleged that some APC chieftains at the national level were planning to use INEC to rig the election, as it was allegedly done in Edo State.

Reacting to Mimiko's allegation, APC Publicity Secretary in the state, Abayomi Adesanya, denied the allegation, describing it as frivolous and a mere excuse for failure on the part of the PDP.