Ondo State Governor and the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has successfully cast his vote in the ongoing governorship election in the state. The governor was seen at his polling unit early on election day, fulfilling his civic duty as part of the efforts to retain his position for another term in office.
Reports indicate that Aiyedatiwa, who initially gained political prominence as the Deputy Governor to the late Rotimi Akeredolu, voted at his designated polling unit in Ugbonla, located within the Ilaje LCDA. The governor’s participation in the election underscores his commitment to the democratic process as he faces stiff competition from other candidates, including Agboola Ajayi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and various others representing different political parties in the state.
In the lead-up to the election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had given its assurances that the governorship election in Ondo State would be conducted in a manner that ensures transparency and fairness. This commitment was reiterated by Professor Kunle Ajayi, INEC’s National Commissioner responsible for overseeing the election activities in Ondo, Ogun, and Osun States.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s *Politics Today* program on Friday, Professor Ajayi emphasized that the commission had put in place all the necessary logistics and measures to deliver a credible election process. He also urged voters in the state to turn out in large numbers to exercise their right to vote, expressing confidence in INEC’s preparedness for the task ahead.
“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 remarked during the program. He reassured voters that INEC had addressed previous challenges encountered in similar elections and had distributed all sensitive materials to the designated areas across Ondo State well in advance of the election day, unlike the September 21 governorship election in Edo State.
Professor Ajayi also called on political actors to adhere strictly to the rules of the electoral process and to work towards maintaining a peaceful atmosphere during the election. He emphasized the need for political stakeholders to act responsibly and for voters to conduct themselves in an orderly manner while at the polling units. This, he noted, would contribute significantly to the success and credibility of the election.
INEC’s commitment to ensuring a free, fair, and transparent election process is expected to build confidence among the electorate, encouraging widespread participation in the voting exercise. As the people of Ondo State head to the polls, all eyes are on the candidates and the electoral commission to deliver a process that reflects the true will of the people.