The Peoples Democratic Party has alleged that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa is already gripped by fear of losing the state’s upcoming governorship poll.
PDP Publicity Secretary, Kennedy Peretei, argued that Aiyedatiwa and the All Progressives Congress had entered “panic mode” as election day drew closer.
He said, “As the Ondo election approaches the Zero Hour, those who said the election was a walk-over for them have been unable to sleep, slipping into a ‘panic mode.’ A good number of them, who initially proclaimed that they are ‘Lucky,’ are singing a new song, based on the realities they encountered on the field,” Vanguard quoted him as saying.
Peretei criticized the APC’s campaign, stating that the comfortable offices from where leaders declared themselves “lucky” did not match the stark reality on the streets where “hunger and lack walk in all four legs.”
He added, “The electorate sent the signal wherever the campaign train of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa visited that there is pain in the land, orchestrated by the All Progressives Congress, Aiyedatiwa’s party.”
Citing comments made by APC National Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, Peretei suggested that Ganduje’s statements indicated internal concerns within the APC.
Peretei noted, “The APC national leadership has come to terms with the reality that nobody can rig the November 16 election, and they are not as lucky as they hitherto assumed.”
Peretei also alleged that recent actions by the APC reflected panic, pointing to delayed salary alerts for the 416 political appointees recruited from the state’s 203 wards.
“What is the guarantee that, after losing the election in November, they will be paid?” he questioned.
He also criticized Aiyedatiwa’s campaign promises, particularly around the N73,000 minimum wage announcement, suggesting it was an empty pledge.
“Those workers who went to endorse the governor for another term should ask themselves again if indeed, they have been lucky with this Governor,” Peretei said.
Peretei further noted that Amotekun Corps Commandant Adetunji Adeleye had been tasked with leading a 25-member security committee for the governor’s campaign, which he described as a panic-driven strategy. “Instead of apologizing to the people, the Spokesman of the Aiyedatiwa Campaign denied that such was ever proposed. How can anybody trust people who lie so shamelessly in this manner?” he said.
In response, APC spokesperson Steve Otaloro dismissed the PDP’s claims, calling them “amusing.” He said, “The PDP statement claiming the APC is slipping into panic mode is quite amusing. It’s clear they are trying to deflect attention from their struggles.”
