Ondo poll now a two-horse race as APC, PDP show dominance, Tinubu’s candidate places third in early results

Ondo poll now a two-horse race as APC, PDP show dominance, Tinubu’s candidate places third in early results

MAHMOOD YAKUBU INEC ChairmanEarly results from some polling units in the Ondo State governorship election shows two parties, the APC and PDP leading the log with the revived Alliance for Democracy (AD) placing third in what many project would sound a death knell to the influence of Bola Tinubu in South West politics. Tinubu is backing Olusola Oke, the candidate of the AD.

Before the election, unofficial exit polls had placed AD on the same pedestal with both APC and the incumbent PDP in the state; but feelers from field reports point to a trouncing of the AD with APC and PDP running neck and neck in a poll now too close to call.

The election had been marred by allegations of cash-for-votes and other shady deals with the PDP accusing the APC of wooing voters with money.

A major feature of the election was the high turnout of voters, thus allying fears of voter apathy following the killing Thursday night of a chieftain of the APC, Afolabi Olaposi, in Owo, the hometown of Rotimi Akeredolu, the party’s flag-bearer in the election.

At Ikare Akoko in Akoko North-East Local Government Area  of Ondo North Senatorial District, accreditation and voting started at exactly 8:a.m. amidst the massive turnout of voters.

At Iyometa Ward 2, Unit 3, Ikare, the Presiding Officer, Mr Sam Adeniyi, expressed satisfaction with the voter turnout, adding that the accreditation and voting were going on without any hitch.

“As you can see now, we are just starting and  the turnout is very impressive,” he said.

Similarly, at  Iyometa Ward 2,Unit 2,the Presiding Officer, Miss Janet Umes, said that the voters were cooperating and the situation was calm while turnout was impressive

“About 100 people have been  accredited and voted as at 9:10 a.m.,” she said.

Collation of results have commenced in full swing and there are strong feelers that barring the unforeseen, final result will be announced on Sunday.