ONDO GUBER POLL 2012: MIMIKO IN EARLY LEAD

FINALLY, the chicken has come home to roost after several months of loud campaigns and banter.

Governor Olusegun Mimiko is already in an early lead in Akure South, Ifedore, Ondo West, Ondo East among other declared local governments in Ondo State, following yesterday’s governorship election in the state. Collation of results continues as at press time.

In what looks like a major upset, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) gubernatorial candidate in the election, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) lost in his polling units and ward to Dr Mimiko of Labour Party (LP).

In the result released by the returning officer for Ijebu Owo-2, LP’s Mimiko scored 420 votes to defeat his closest challenger, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Chief Olusola Oke who had 294. He was followed by Akeredolu who scored 287 in the political ward.

In the result released at the Akeredolu’s Polling Unit, the LP had 144 votes to defeat the ACN’s candidate who had 139 while the PDP scored 35.

However, both the PDP’s candidate and LP won in their various polling units. Mimiko won in his Iroko unit with 348. He was followed by ACN who had 16 and PDP that had 13 votes. Oke also won in his Ugbo ward 3 where he polled 178 to defeat ACN which had 13 and LP 3.

Other results released by Presiding Officers in several polling units and wards across the state showed that the LP candidate is leading Oke and Akeredolu in Akure South, Ifedore, Ondo West and Ondo East local governments.

For instance, in Fanibi Unit 5, the LP had 172 while the PDP scored 48. The ACN had 33. In Unit 4, the PDP has 41 ACN 32, and LP 145. in Ijapo, the LP 192; ACN 52; PDP 41: Akure Plaza ward 2, ACN 70; PDP 69; LP 221; Akure Plaza Motel Junction ACN 92; PDP 89; LP 241; Akure Ward 4(1), Obanla ACN 40; PDP 89; LP 220; Ward 4(2) ACN 27; PDP 110; LP 141; Sijuade ACN 52; PDP 72; LP 327.

Voting however did not take place in Ojigbobini Unit Apoi ward 2 unit 10 as a result absence of speed boats that would take Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials to the polling unit.

In some polling units, there was also delay in the arrival of voting materials to some polling units in Akure, the state capital and parts of Ilaje and Eseodo local governments.
In many areas, the voting process was peaceful across the eighteen councils as at time of filing this report, as electoral materials and polling personnel arrived the respective collating centres at about 7:30 am .

Security was beefed in the riverine area of Arogbo, Ajapa, Bolouwo and Ukparama where an ex-militant leader, Bibopere Ajube was reported to have unleashed terror on presumed PDP leaders in the area, seizing their boats and maiming their followers, on the eve of the election.

Some boats belonging to the special adviser to the President on Niger-Delta Affairs, Kingsley Kuku and that of a member of the State House of Assembly, Akpoebi Lubi were hijacked by some suspected militants..

Three gun boats belonging to the Nigerian Navy, Forward Operational Base, (FOB), Igbokoda and the Marine Police were seen parading the Igbokoda-Agadagba-Arogbo-Bolouwo waterways forestall any breakdown of law and order.

INEC officials and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members used as ad-hoc staff for the election arrived Arogbo town, in Ese-Odo council area at about 8;15 am, but officials could not get to their respective polling unit until 11: 00 am due to late distribution of electoral materials at the collating centre at St. Peter FA.C Primary School in the coastal town.

However, people in Arogbo came out in large number in their respective wards, waiting patiently for electoral officials and election materials to arrive.

Although, the weather was so hot and the sun was burning too hard when the materials and men arrived, the people were not deterred as they lined up orderly to check their names on INEC voter’s register.

Voting commenced at about 12; 35pm, while those who are yet to be accredited, did so simultaneously when they were voting.

Polling units visited included; St. Peter R.CM Primary school, Ojogo unit 001, Gbamila unit 006, R.C.M 2 unit 5 and R.CM unit 004, all in Arogbo Ward I.

Governor Mimiko voted at his ward 7 unit 20 Agooke at about 2:33pm in company of his wife Oluwakemi and Honorable Iranola Akinnlaja, a member of the Federal House of Representative, Ondo State and West constituency and Chief Dele the deputy chairman of Labour Party (LP).

Accreditation started as early as 8: am in Idanre, in the Central Senatorial District , as INEC officials and election materials arrived before 8am.

In Irowo Ward (Ademulegun unit), large crowd of voters were seen on line, waiting to cast their votes in an atmosphere devoid of rancor, violence or uncultured behavior as everybody as conscious and eager to play his or her civic responsibility and right to elect the leader of their choice.

There was also a rumoured arrest of commissioner for Special Duties, Mr Niran-Sule Akinsuyi, the Chairman of Caretaker Committee in Owo local government.

Besides, there was the report that the PDP’s candidate was delayed for over an hour in Igbotako in Okitipupa local government when he was about going to his hometown in Ilowo in Ilaje local government.

Both reports were however debunked by the Commissioner for Information, Mr Kayode Akinmade and the Special Adviser to Oke on Media, Mr Kunle Adebayo.

Akinmade said there was no arrest of any officials of the government by men of the Nigerian Police of the Army saying it was the antics of the opposition ACN to discredit the outcome of the election.

According to him, the opposition ACN had been spreading wicked rumours about the officials of the LP administration in the past one week when it was obvious they were going to loose the election.

Similarly, Adebayo said Oke was not arrested nor harassed at Igbotako by security forces.
His words “This is a wicked story planted by desperate politicians’ liars, alarmist and confusionist who are trying to make sensational news out of an ordinary and harmless event which is not in breach of security protocols.

“To set the records straight, Chief Oke was early this morning passing through Igbotako en route Ilowo, Ilaje local government, his country home; deep on the seaside. As legitimately expected, his convoy of security details and essential staff not more than three was stopped for routine security protocols which include questioning and personnel identification.

“This was thorough and professionally done by the highly civil and decent security men.
“Nothing incriminating was found in possession of the convoy unlike the liars and enemies of common sense would like the world to believe.

“The PDP candidate dutifully proceeded later with his journey and arrived Ilowo, in the riverine area where he was accredited and voted accordingly.”

In Ondo town, The turn out of voters was very impressive, accreditation went on smoothly in most the polling booths. However, the situation was different at ward 9 unit 1 and 2 located at Oke Ayadi Ogbon Titun street where over 300 voters were unable to find their names as at quarter past one in the afternoon.

A PDP agent who gave his name as Oni Samuel was arrested by a combined police and soldiers at the polling booth located at Akure garage over alleged possession of large
amount of money with him which he said to be using to induce voters . Items found on him include INEC agent handbook and a list containing several names and voter card numbers. He was later taken away in a Nigerian army Hilux marked NA 929 BOS.

However Mimiko’s early lead corroborate the chorus of views expressed by notable leaders of the South-West zone such as the Afenifere, Yoruba Elders’ Council, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Dr. Fredrick Fasheun, Chief Ayo Adebanjo among others ahead of the poll.

SOME EARLY RESULTS

Ijebu, Owo Ward 2 (Akeredolu’s ward)
Labour-420; PDP-294; ACN -287
Akinjagunla Ward 12 Ondo Town
LP- 678; ACN- 98: PDP- 43
Iroko Unit (Mimiko’s ward)
LP-348: ACN -16: PDP- 11: ANPP- 02: PDC -18
Ugbo Unit 3 (Oke’s ward): PDP- 178; ACN -13: LP- 3
Fanibi Unit 5: LP- 172: PDP 48: ACN- 33
Unit 4: PDP 41: ACN -32: LP -145
Ijapo: LP- 192: ACN- 52: PDP- 41
Akure Plaza ward 2: ACN- 70; PDP -69; LP- 22
Akure Plaza Motel Junction:ACN -92 ; PDP- 89; LP- 24
Akure Ward 4 (1) Obanla: ACN- 40; PDP- 89 ; LP -220
Ward 4 (2): ACN- 27; PDP- 110; LP- 141
Sijuade: ACN-52; PDP- 72; LP - 327
Akoko South West Ward 12
ACN-1807; PDP -720; LP 400
Akungba 2 United Primary School Unit 1,
(Tolu Babaleye’s Unit): ACN -149; PDP -70; LP -48
Akoko South West Ward 10 Supare:
ACN -422, LP -869, PDP- 1,133.
Ose LG Ward 006 total Votes;
LP -1,077; PDP- 396; ACN -599
Okitipupa, Ward - Erekiti, Oriola/Surulere unit 1
LP-48; PDP-34; ACN-19
Victoria Nur & Pry Schl Unit 18 Okitipupa
PDP -152; ACN- 38 LP- 35
Okitipupa Market Unit: LP- 55; ACN-24; PDP -202
Okitipupa Unit 17 Ward 2:
PDP-198; LP-76; ACN -57
Omolere Ward 4 unit 19:
LP-275; PDP -57; ACN- 43
Isua Ward 8: PDP -76; LP-72; ACN- 28
Majokolasan Unit, Okitipupa LG:
LP- 135; PDP- 72; ACN -50
Erekiti/Oriola/Surulere Unit: LP-48; PDP- 38; ACN- 19
Igbotako Ward 2/Idolu Unit: LP-111; ACN- 37; PDP- 97
Surulere Unit: LP- 84; ACN- 103; PDP- 90
Sugan Oko: LP-17; ACN- 28; PDP- 20
Count Unit: ACN- 34; PDP- 61; LP- 82
Akinfosile: PDP- 86; LP- 81; ACN- 50
Akure Ijapo Ward 4 Unit 7:
PDP-63; ACN- 40; LP- 202
Ijapo Police Post: PDP-50; LP- 169; ACN- 65
Ese Odo Leki Unit: LP-15; PDP -7; ACN- 2.