Ondo 2024: Pressure group demands zoning of governorship slot in Akure.
The Ondo State Consultative Assembly (OSCA), a significant socio-political pressure group, has encouraged political parties in the state to zone the governorship seat to Akure, the state’s central senatorial district.
This is stated in a letter sent to President Bola Tinubu, the National Chairman of the PDP, his counterpart in the APC, as well as the leaders of the Labour Party and the Social Democratic Party.
The letter was signed by OSCA President Dr. Bolarinwa Omotosho and General Secretary Mrs. Odunola Ogunmola-Daini.
The study discovered that only Akure, out of all the major ethnic groupings in the state, has never produced a democratically elected governor since the formation of Ondo State.
“It has become necessary to inform the powers that be of the enormity of the injustices perpetrated against Akure-speaking communities and towns in Ondo State’s Central Senatorial District since the return to democratic governance in 1999, and even earlier.
“The marginalisation of the Akure people has been palpable over the years, despite all the assistance that the people of Akure have given to their brothers and sisters from other parts of the state.”
The OSCA urged political parties to zone their governorship tickets for the old Akure Division, which included Ilara, Igbaraoke, Ijare, Ipogun, Iju, Itaogbolu, Oba, and Idanre.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that the off-cycle election in Ondo will take place on November 16.
In compliance with Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act of 2022, the commission has also issued a timetable of events running up to the governorship elections in Ondo.
The party primaries in Ondo State will take place from April 6 to April 27, with the list of nominated candidates being submitted through an internet portal beginning on April 29 and closing on May 20.
The final list of candidates will be released on June 18, while political parties’ public campaigns will begin on June 19 and terminate 24 hours before election day on November 14.