- Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa defeated his nearest challenger, Agboola Ajayi of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to emerge the governor-elect of Ondo State
- Aiyedatiwa's landslide victory was due to a number of reasons
- TheRadar, in this article, analysed the factors behind his victory, including targeted outreach and focus on youth mobilisation
Aiyedatiwa’s recent election victory has captured the attention of political analysts and voters alike. With a decisive win, Aiyedatiwa has emerged not just as the preferred candidate but also as a powerful political force to reckon with in the region.
From an outcast deputy governor whose dying principal, Rotimi Akeredolu SAN, would refuse to hand over power to, to becoming the substantive governor whose emergence became inevitable by the law following the passing of Aketi, Aiyedatiwa’s road to the apex seat of power in his state has been a long one.
While his victory was a landslide and largely predictable to critics and analysts alike, there are several key elements that stand out when analysing the reasons behind his electoral conquest. TheRadar points them out below.
4 reasons Aiyedatiwa won Ondo election
1. The power of the incumbent
One of the most significant factors in Aiyedatiwa’s victory was the power of the incumbent. Incumbents typically enjoy a considerable advantage in elections, and Aiyedatiwa was no exception.
Having emerged as the substantive governor before heading into the election, he was able to leverage the position to quickly win the trust of the voters in executing easily identifiable projects. By commissioning about 54 boreholes in rural communities suffering from water provision and approving the installation of 1,600 solar-powered streetlights, Aiyedatiwa quickly impressed himself in terms of clean water and security.
Being the sitting governor also meant that he had an edge in navigating political networks, securing party loyalty, and garner support from influential figures within the ruling APC, which also controls the government at the centre. By now, Ajayi and the rest of the contenders know how difficult it is to win support without being in a position of power. Luckily for Lucky, he used it well and got a solid foundation for his success at the polls.
2. The sympathy vote
As earlier said, Aiyedatiwa’s personal and political journey has been full of fortune. In one minute, he was a figurehead deputy governor whom people were begging Akeredolu to hand over power to. In another, he was being sworn in to become the number one person in the state, with no principal to hound him.
People even credited his rise to prominence to the force behind the meaning of his names, Lucky (needs no explanation) and Aiyedatiwa (life has - finally - become ours).
The manner of his emergence already made him popular. It even evoked the memories of Goodluck Jonathan in 2010/2011, who became acting president only after the National Assembly House insisted that Umaru Yar’adua handed over power.
He was fully elected to the office in 2011 after overcoming significant obstacles.
Therefore, for many voters, supporting Aiyedatiwa was not just about choosing a candidate, but about backing someone who had faced hardship and had emerged stronger someone who could represent their hopes and aspirations.
From pity to power.
3. The strength of his opposition
The previous points already made Aiyedatiwa a formidable force who could only have been defeated by a much stronger force. However, his closest challenger, Agboola Ajayi, also a victim of Akeredolu’s overpowering decision, stood no chance and didn’t have a better portfolio than Aiyedatiwa.
Maybe he could emerge in the coming years but 2024 was not the year he was compelling enough for the electorate.
Furthermore, some other rivals struggled to distance themselves from controversial figures or past decisions that many voters found off-putting. This allowed Aiyedatiwa to appear as a stable, trustworthy alternative.
In all, the opposition didn’t have a stronger candidate than Aiyedatiwa.
4. Impact of voter mobilisation and campaign strategy
Another aspect that should not be overlooked is Aiyedatiwa’s sophisticated campaign strategy and effective voter mobilisation efforts. His team’s extensive ground game, use of digital media, and targeted outreach to key constituencies played a significant role in driving voter turnout.
The projects provided a perfect platform to build on to make his message resounding to both the youth and the elderly.
His campaign focused on job creation, economic stability, and educational reform, and these would resonate with younger voters, who made up a significant portion of the electorate.
All these, not to mention the alleged stipend that went round on election day, were enough to make Aiyedatiwa easily win the election.
#OndoDecides2024: PDP’s Agboola Ajayi wins polling unit, defeats APC's Ayedatiwa
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Agboola Ajayi, had emerged victorious in his polling unit in the ongoing Ondo State gubernatorial election.
Ajayi, who cast his vote at Apoi Ward II, Unit 004 in Kiribo, Ese Odo Local Government Area, polled 194 votes to defeat his main rival, Governor Lucky Ayedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who managed to secure only 3 votes.
