By Kennedy Ikantu Peretei.

First of all, l bring warm greetings from members of our great party , Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, to all our respected leaders on this platform. As the days get closer to the election day, the assurance of our victory at the poll is palpable. Even the incumbent Governor and his party, APC are already on “Overdrive and Panic Mode”.

Only yesterday (Sunday), at the Governorship Debate anchored by Channels Television, the PDP Candidate, H.E Agboola Ajayi, was rated very highly by the people, well above the incumbent who struggled throughout the Debate to whitewash his poor performance in Security and education. Those who never gave us a chance, have started calling us after the debate.

Since the Independent National Electoral Commission under Prof Mahmood Yakubu presided over the sham he called Edo State Governorship Election on Saturday, 21st September, 2024, both the Commission and its leadership have experienced severe bombardment for failing integrity test.

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) that monitored the election faulted the outcome of the election. Results of many Polling Units were altered at the Collation Centers in several places. Yiaga Africa in particular wrote a very damaging report on the election that warranted the National Publicity Secretary of APC, Mr Felix Morka to call a World Press Conference to lampoon Yiaga Africa for trying to make themselves “alternative electoral umpire”.

Events of the last one week have confirmed INEC’s complicity in the Edo election. Forensic evidence showed that the results uploaded to INEC IReV portal were different from the Certified True Copies (CTC) obtained from INEC of the same Polling Units. Martins Obono, Executive Director, TAP initiative on a national television programme revealed “damning incontrovertible evidence” of INEC conspiracy, which he said has capacity to derail the present democratic dispensation. Hand Writing Experts report showed that most of the results uploaded were written and signed by the same person.

Situating the Edo Election within the context of the Ondo Governorship election slated for Saturday, 16th November, 2024, Prof Yakubu himself admitted that Edo Election fell below expectations. Addressing Journalists in Akure, today (Monday, 4th November), he said ” my assurance to voters in Ondo State is that they will witness significant improvements in these areas- Results Management and Logistics”.

However, nobody should take Yakubu serious on this promise. Over the years, his performance declines with every election. These excuses are unacceptable for an off season election like that of Edo State. The National Chairman of APC, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, in one careless moment, said the “Edo Template” will be applied in Ondo State. That is a pointer to the fact, the APC leadership and Yakubu may be working together. Especially in view of what President Bola Tinubu said before the Edo election, that he will give Edo State to APC.

The Edo election has greatly exposed INEC. It has brought to the fore the need for the PDP to be doubly alert and ensure that, those who wish to derail our democracy by subverting the will of the people are not given a chance.

Interestingly, every household in Ondo State is charged ahead of the November election. The hunger and frustration in the land are the twin realities that INEC and APC will contend with on election day.

I have no doubt that, if the party in Ondo State is not abandoned by the national leadership, Ondo State will join Oyo and Osun States as PDP controlled in the South West. Let me also add that, the minor internal wranglings that some claimed was responsible for the Edo election results do not exist in Ondo. While those who could not endure being in opposition joined the APC, the PDP machinery as it is today will still win a free and fair election in the State.

I wish to appreciate the leader of the PDP in the South West, Engr Seyi Makinde, and H.E Ademola Adeleke, Governor of Osun and Chairman of the National Campaign Council, of Ondo 2024 Governorship election for their support that has brought us thus far. The PDP Governors’ Forum under the leadership of H.E Bala Mohammed has been very fantastic. ONDO is the next State waiting to join the league of PDP States.

Ondo is very Ready Now.