Twenty six political parties and their candidates have been given the green light by the electoral empire to contest the election, which is seen as a litmus test for major political parties and their actors.
While other political parties may be in the election for the sake of ensuring that their registration is not truncated by INEC, dominant blocs in the PDP and APC wielded their influence to ensure that their candidates got the nod of INEC before the election day.
It is believed that while the Senator Ali Modu Sheriff-led faction of the PDP has trounced that of Senator Ahmed Makarfi, the dream of the national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to stamp his authority in Ondo has been doomed by some invisible forces.
Soon after the announcement of the final list by INEC, the drum of war literally took centre stage in Ondo, heightening fears that unless urgent steps are taken, some aggrieved actors would go to any length to wreak havoc and ultimately truncate the whole electoral process in order to vent their anger. On Friday, protesters took to the streets as early as 6.30 am, blocked major roads and shut down commercial activities.
Banks were closed for customers as the protesters, in their hundreds, including members of the road transport unions, ordered all their members to withdraw their vehicles from the road.
Residents trekked long distances while some school children hurriedly went back home during the peaceful protest, which almost turned bloody in Ondo town.
Pundits believe that the Ondo election is far from local politics, but real power play and intrigues that would shape how the 2019 elections would look like, not only in the South-West but across Nigeria.
So far, both the ruling PDP and the opposition APC in the state have undeniably chewed more than they can swallow in many fronts, resulting to deep-rooted resentments and acrimony in the two parties at the national level.
If recent developments are anything to go by, both parties may likely undo themselves through anti-party posturing and mud-sliding, a development that would be to the advantage of any of the relatively stronger political parties to cash on and spring surprises during the election.
The INEC said the final list of the gubernatorial candidates and their deputies was released in accordance with section 34 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).
The rancour in the PDP
In the final list, the INEC put the name of Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim as the candidate of the PDP. But months ago, it was the name of Eyitayo Jegede that was shining at INEC's headquarters in Abuja. In the latest twist, the electoral empire indicated that it acted on an earlier directive by the Abuja division of the Federal High Court, which said Jimoh Ibrahim's name should be announced as candidate of the PDP.
In his ruling on an application filed by the chairman and secretary of the PDP in Ondo State, Prince Biyi Poroye, Ademola Genty and others in Osun and Oyo states respectively, Justice Okon Abang held that INEC had no reason to reject Jimoh Ibrahim, whose name was submitted by the plaintiffs. This was how the INEC arrived at its decision on Thursday.
But on that same Thursday, an Akure High Court had restrained the INEC from substituting the name of Eyitayo Jegede as PDP candidate for the election. The court was approached by the Senator Makarfi-led faction and sort for an exparte order to stop the move by Jimoh Ibrahim to become the flag-bearer of the party.
Acting on the application, Justice William Olamide said it would be out of order for the INEC to replace or substitute Jegede's name while the motion on notice was still pending. According to him, such decision ýwould contravene the principles of "equity, justice and fairness." He directed the PDP to ensure the service of the order on the INEC before the next date of hearing fixed for November 7.
Also, the Makarfi faction of the PDP did not mince words in warning the federal government against allowing the stalemate to degenerate, saying such situation could cause crisis capable of bringing down the government.
In a statement on Friday, spokesman of the Makarfi faction, Dayo Adeyeye, fingered the APC-led federal government in the events unfolding in Ondo, insisting that they would resist any form of political imposition.
"It is a known fact that Ondo people are politically sophisticated. Any attempt to truncate the will of the people will be resisted vehemently. References should be made to the 1965/66 and 1983 political violence in the West, which brought about the collapse of the First and Second Republics. We should, therefore, be careful not to repeat history.
"The INEC monitored the primary election conducted in Akure, Ondo State, by the Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi-led PDP, which produced Eyitayo Jegede. The INEC did not monitor the purported primary election that produced Barr Jimoh Ibrahim, which was said to have been held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital," he said.
In his reaction, Governor Olusegun Mimiko said, "I am shocked. In logic, law, politics, there is no basis for it whatsoever.''
Mimiko said they had appealed the judgement delivered by Justice Abang, adding,
"We didn't want to take chances because somebody in INEC told us that they obeyed the last order in the commission.
"Someone went to court and obtained two different orders mandating INEC not to substitute Eyitayo Jegede. We served one on INEC about 10 am and the other one at the close of business about 3pm.
"Surprisingly, about 8pm on Thursday, we got to know that INEC, for no justifiable reason, had substituted the name of Jegede with that of Ibrahim."
It is, therefore, expected that the appeal would determine the next line of action by the Makarfi faction and the governors.
The ugly silence in APC
Just like the PDP, the APC house is equally not in order as far as the Ondo election is concerned.
The national leadership of the party, symbolised by Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has thrown its weight behind Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). His emergence was against the wish of Asiwaju Tinubu, who was all out in support of Olusegun Abraham.
In the aftermath of the primary election, Tinubu accused Oyegun of disrespecting the rule of law and fair play as enshrined in the party's constitution.
"To rescue the party, Oyegun must go. He has shown that he and democratic fair play cannot exist in the same party at the same time,'' Tinubu had stated.
Oyegun replied by saying that the statement by the former Lagos governor was baseless and reckless. "It is an insult to my person and my hard-earned reputation, which I have strongly maintained," he said.
Pundits believe that as a result of the crises in the PDP and APC, a "dark horse" might emerge from another party.
Strength and weaknesses of candidates
Jimoh Ibrahim (PDP)
Though a lawyer, he is more of a businessman than a politician. He hails from Igbotako in Okitipupa Local Government Area of the state.
Observers say he is not a grassroots politician and his political activities are always laced with flaws. He is seen as a "political businessman."
Rotimi Akeredolu (APC)
He hails from Owo in Owo Local Government Area. He is also a lawyer who is equally not regarded as a grassroots politician.
He is a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and was part of the legal team that played prominent role in the legal battle that saw to the emergence of Governor Mimiko in 2009.
Aketi, as he is fondly called, was sponsored by Tinubu in the 2012 gubernatorial election. He came a distant third, losing to Mimiko.
He is seen as having a lot of federal backing, and with the emergence of Jimoh Ibrahim as the PDP candidate, his chances have swelled.
Dr Olu Agunloye: Social Democratic Party (SDP)
Agunloye, a PhD holder, hails from Erusu Akoko. He aspired to be governor on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN) in the 2012. He left for Labour Party (LP) and later decamped to the SDP.
Agunloye may spring surprises because of the problem in the APC. Akoko people may see him as an option since Tinubu's preferred candidate was denied the ticket. He is simple and accessible.
Olusola Oke: Alliance for Democracy (AD)
He hails from Iloho in Ilaje Local Government Area. Oke decamped to the PDP before the 2003 general election and supported Olusegun Agagu to emerge as governor.
He is a leader in Ilaje and a grassroots politician. He is said to have the backing of Asiwaju Tinubu, a rumour he has denied.
