PDP: Aiyedatiwa is Panicking Ahead of Ondo Governorship Election
As the Ondo state governorship election scheduled for November 16 draws near, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has claimed that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate, is increasingly anxious about the possibility of losing.
The APC, however, has dismissed this claim, calling it baseless and expressing confidence in an overwhelming victory for Aiyedatiwa.
PDP’s Publicity Secretary, Hon. Kennedy Peretei, remarked, “With election day fast approaching, those who once saw this race as easy are clearly losing their composure. Many who previously expressed confidence in their ‘luck’ are now rethinking, faced with the reality on the ground.”
Peretei continued, highlighting a disconnect between the government’s messaging and the daily hardships faced by citizens. “The optimism from their comfortable offices doesn’t match the struggles people are facing on the streets, where hunger and scarcity are the norm,” he stated.
He also noted the public’s dissatisfaction during Aiyedatiwa’s campaign visits, adding, “People are vocal about the hardships they attribute to the APC. Even the APC’s National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, hinted at employing an ‘Edo Template’ in Ondo. But in the same breath, he claimed there was no need to rig to secure a win.”
Peretei further alleged that recent actions taken by Aiyedatiwa’s campaign showed signs of desperation. “After failing to gain public support, they introduced measures that quickly proved ineffective. For example, the 416 political appointees selected from 203 wards did not receive their October 2024 salaries, leaving them questioning the governor’s promises. How can they be confident of payment if he loses the election?” he asked.
Peretei also pointed to an unfulfilled promise of a N73,000 minimum wage increase, which he claimed was announced at a campaign event but has yet to materialize. He criticized the governor for relying on “propagandists” rather than allowing his projects to speak for his tenure.
He concluded by questioning the appointment of Adetunji Adeleye, the Commandant of Amotekun Corps, to lead a 25-member security committee for the campaign. The spokesperson for Aiyedatiwa’s campaign denied the appointment, but Peretei argued that such inconsistent statements undermined trust.
APC Responds to PDP’s Claims
Responding to these assertions, APC spokesperson Steve Otaloro dismissed the PDP’s accusations as laughable, suggesting that they were simply a tactic to distract from the PDP’s own challenges. “The PDP’s statements reflect their own struggles, not ours,” Otaloro asserted.
