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Electoral Behaviour in Ekiti 2014 Governorship Election in
Nigeria

(deolu )uroto*e& Ph)
)epartment o+ Political Science and International Studies& ,ollege o+ Social and -anagement Sciences
(+e .a/alola 0ni1ersit*& (do 23iti& 23iti State& Nigeria
2mail4 (deolud5a/ud.edu.ng& (deolud5*ahoo.com

Abstract
6he 7une 2'& 2#'4 go1ernorship election in 23iti State& South 8est Nigeria& was ad9udged to /e +ree and +air.
Howe1er& the election was uni:ue in the sense that the incum/ent go1ernor& ;a*ode <a*emi lost in all the '!
local go1ernment areas o+ the state& while the winner& (*odele <a*ose& was a +ormer go1ernor impeached in
2##! on account o+ corruption. 6his paper e=amines what in+ormed the political /eha1iour o+ the 23iti people in
this particular election. 6he paper relies on newspaper commentaries& as well as inter1iews conducted /* the
author with a +ew 1oters two da*s a+ter the election. 6he paper o++ers su++icient reasons wh* the so called >power
o+ incum/enc*? did not wor3 in +a1our o+ the (P, candidate in the 7une 2' 23iti election.

1. Introduction
In what was du//ed a dress rehearsal +or the 2#'5 general elections in Nigeria& the 7une 2'& 2#'4 go1ernorship
elections in 23iti State& South 8est Nigeria& was ad9udged to /e +ree and +air& and in comparison& +ar /etter than
a similar election in (nam/ra state in 2#'@ that was marred with some irregularities. Howe1er& the election was
uni:ue in the sense that the incum/ent go1ernor& ;a*ode <a*emi lost in all the '! local go1ernment areas o+ the
state& while the winner& (*odele <a*ose& was a +ormer go1ernor impeached in 2##! on account o+ corruption.
6his paper e=amines what in+ormed the political /eha1iour o+ the 23iti people in this particular election. 6he
incum/ent go1ernor and the (P, candidate& ;a*ode <a*emi was :uic3 to accept de+eat. In doing so& he
ac3nowledged that Aindeed a new sociolog* o+ the 23iti (Boru/a) people ma* ha1e e1ol1ed. Howe1er& the tas3
o+ understanding how the outcome o+ this election has de+ined us as a people will /e that o+ scholars?.
6his is the tas3 o+ this paper. 6he paper will rel* on newspaper commentaries& as well as inter1iews conducted
/* the author with a +ew 1oters two da*s a+ter the election. 6he paper would ha1e /een enriched i+ there were
resources to administer length* :uestionnaire. Notwithstanding the limitation& the paper o++ers su++icient reasons
wh* the so called >power o+ incum/enc*? did not wor3 in +a1our o+ the (P, candidate in the 7une 2' 23iti
election.

2. The political parties candidates and their antecedents
21en though '$ political parties presented candidates +or the go1ernorship elections& onl* @ parties were 1isi/le
/e+ore& during and a+ter the elections.
(ll NigeriaCs PeopleCs ,ongress ((P,) presented the incum/ent go1ernor& ;a*ode <a*emi& as his candidate.
;a*ode <a*emi& a ci1il societ* acti1ist came to power through a court 9udgement in 2#'#. He had contested the
go1ernorship election on the /anner o+ the de+und (ction ,ongress o+ Nigeria ((,N)& in 2##. In that election&
the candidate o+ the PeopleCs )emocratic Part* (P)P)& "lusegun "ni was declared the winner /* the
Independent National 2lectoral ,ommission (IN2,). (+ter three and a hal+ *ears +ighting through the legal
s*stem& the appeal court sitting in ;wara state declared <a*emi the dul* elected Do1ernor o+ 23iti State on
"cto/er '5& 2#'#& and mar3ed the end o+ "lusegun "niEs administration as the then Do1ernor o+ the state as
<a*emi was sworn in as the go1ernor. .orn in 'F!5& <a*emi recei1ed degrees in Histor*& Politics and
International Relations +rom the 0ni1ersities o+ Gagos and I+e in Nigeria and a doctorate in 8ar Studies +rom the
prestigious ;ingEs ,ollege& 0ni1ersit* o+ Gondon& 2ngland& specialiHing in ci1il-militar* relations.
.e+ore his +ora* into politics& ;a*ode <a*emi had wor3ed as )irector o+ the ,entre +or )emocrac* I
)e1elopment& a research and training institution dedicated to the stud* and promotion o+ democratic
de1elopment& peace-/uilding and human securit* in (+rica. He also wor3ed as a lecturer& 9ournalist& researcher
and Strateg* )e1elopment ad1iser in Nigeria and the 0nited ;ingdom.
(ccording to 8i3ipedia& the +ree enc*clopedia& <a*emi was a prominent mem/er o+ the Nigerian opposition to
militar* rule in e=ile& and he was one o+ those responsi/le +or the +ounding and management o+ the opposition
radios J Radio <reedom& Radio )emocrac* International I Radio ;udirat and pla*ed a central role in the
oppositionCs diplomatic engagements in e=ile during the militar* rule o+ Den. Sani (/acha.
His part*& 6he (ll Progressi1es ,ongress ((P,) was +ormed on ! <e/ruar* 2#'@ as a result o+ an alliance /*
NigeriaEs +our /iggest opposition parties J the (ction ,ongress o+ Nigeria ((,N)& the ,ongress +or Progressi1e
,hange (,P,)& the (ll Nigeria Peoples Part* ((NPP)& and a +action o+ the (ll Progressi1es Drand (lliance
((PD() Jwhich merged to /ecome a progressi1e part* to ta3e on the conser1ati1e PeopleEs )emocratic Part*.
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6he part* recei1ed appro1al +rom the nationEs electoral umpire Independent National 2lectoral ,ommission
(IN2,) on @' 7ul* 2#'@ to /ecome a political part* and su/se:uentl* withdrew the operating licenses o+ the
three pre1ious merging parties (the (,N& ,P, and (NPP).
"n 25 No1em/er 2#'@& +i1e go1ernors in the e=isting ruling part*& P)P& decided to 9oin (P,& as well as 4F
+ederal legislators gi1ing (P, a slim ma9orit* o+ '$! legislators in the +ederal House o+ Representati1es and 5$
Senators.
P)P candidate and e1entual winner o+ the election& Peter (*odele <a*ose was /orn in 'F!#. His academic
credentials were not as compelling as that o+ <a*emi. He was 3nown to ha1e attended High school. His diploma
certi+icate has /een a su/9ect o+ contention. He won the 2##@ go1ernorship election de+eating Ni*i (de/a*o who
was the candidate o+ the ()& one o+ the +ore/ears o+ (P,. <a*oseCs election in 2##@ was in+luenced /* the
mo/ile clinics which he ran and the distri/ution o+ porta/le water in lorries and tan3ers which allegedl* reduced
deadl* incidence o+ t*phoid in the state. He was go1ernor o+ 23iti state /etween -a* 2F& 2##@ and "cto/er '!&
2##! when he was impeached /* 24 o+ the 2! mem/ers o+ the 23iti state House o+ (ssem/l* on corruption
charges. He was accused o+ em/eHHling state +unds& particularl* the 23iti state poultr* pro9ect +und. <a*ose is
still +acing corruption charges /rought against him /* NigeriaCs anti-gra+t agenc*& 2<,,& which sa*s he stole at
least N4'! million pu/lic +unds while in o++ice /etween 2##@ and 2##!. <a*oseCs impeachment in 2##! was also
due among man* other reasons& to his clash with traditional rulers& and alleged in1ol1ement in political
assassination o+ percei1ed opponents.
His part*& PeopleEs )emocratic Part* (Nigeria) was +ounded in 'FF$. 6he PeopleEs )emocratic Part* is a
conser1ati1e political part* which has won e1er* Presidential election since 'FFF. In 'FFF& the part* lost all the
go1ernorship seats in the South 8est o+ Nigeria despite "lusegun "/asan9o& a south westerner emerging as the
president. 6he P)P +a1ours +ree-mar3et policies which support economic li/eralism& and limited go1ernment
regulation.
6he la/our part* candidate was -ichael "pe*emi .amidele. ( law*er /* pro+ession and +ormer StudentsC
0nion leader& .amidele was /orn in 'F!@. He was elected into the House o+ Representati1e in 2#'' on the
plat+orm o+ (,N which later +used into the (P,. "pe*emi le+t the (P, and 9oined the Ga/our part* in
)ecem/er 2#'@ when he disco1ered that the (P, was not read* to 9ettison <a*emi +or him.
He was at di++erent times commissioner +or In+ormation and Strateg* as well as ,ommissioner +or Bouth& Sports
and Social )e1elopment in Gagos State.
6he Ga/our Part* is a social democratic political part* in Nigeria +ormed in 2##2 /* the Nigerian Ga/our
,ongress. In the 2' (pril 2## Nigerian National (ssem/l* election& the part* won ' out o+ @!# seats in the
House o+ Representati1es and no seats in the Senate. 6he Part*Es +lag /earer in "ndo State& "lusegun -imi3o&
emerged the state go1ernor a+ter winning a 9udicial challenge at the (ppeal ,ourt in 2##F. He remains the onl*
Ga/our Part* Do1ernor in Nigeria ha1ing /een re-elected in 2#'@. 6he Ga/our part* has /ecome a third +orce in
Nigerian politics. It has alwa*s pro1ided a plat+orm +or those whose go1ernorship am/ition could not /e realised
in (P, or P)P. )ue to the nearl* non-e=istent political structure o+ the part* howe1er& it was alwa*s a tall order
to run on its plat+orm.

!. I""#E" IN T$E %#N #& T' T$E E(E)TI'N
@.'. Fayemi-Bamidele Faceoff in APC
6he +irst ma9or challenge encountered /* the newl* registered (P, was the political +ace-o++ /etween a mem/er
o+ the House o+ Representati1es +rom 23iti state& "pe*emi .amidele& and the state Do1ernor& ;a*ode <a*emi
o1er the go1ernorship tic3et o+ the part* in 23iti state. .oth <a*emi and .amidele /ecame sworn political
enemies +ollowing the insistence o+ the latter to contest the 2#'4 go1ernorship election in the state under the (ll
Progressi1es ,ongress& (P,& the same part* as the go1ernor. 6he +ace-o++ came to a head on )ecem/er '@& 2#'@
when .amidele renounced his mem/ership o+ the (ll Progressi1es Part*& (P,.
6he lawma3er also announced his adoption o+ the Ga/our Part* as his new political plat+orm. .amidele alleged
that he could no longer remain in the (P, /ecause >pseudo-democrats?& whom he said had >consistentl*
demonstrated e=treme allerg* to internal democrac*?& had hi9ac3ed it. >6o this e=tent& there+ore& I& -ichael
"pe*emi .amidele& in con9unction with man* nota/le leaders and mem/ers o+ the de+unct (ction ,ongress o+
Nigeria ((,N) in 23iti State& ha1e resol1ed to see3 +or mem/ership o+ another progressi1e part* with immediate
e++ect rather than proceeding to register as new mem/ers o+ the (ll Progressi1e ,ongress ((P,)&? the lawma3er
said. >8hile not attempting to undermine the (P, as a newl* registered political part* with progressi1e
inclination& we ma3e /old to sa* that the leadership o+ (P, in 23iti State has& li3e a reall* upsetting traged*&
/een hi9ac3ed /* pseudo-democrats and reactionar* elements who would stop at nothing to hold on to political
power e1en when the* ha1e clearl* /een re9ected /* the masses.? He said he would now see3 solace in the
Ga/our Part*& which he descri/ed as >a credi/le progressi1e plat+orm o+ con1ergence +or our indi1idual 1ision
and commitment to internal democrac*? ((te/o 2#'@). 7ust /e+ore his decamping to the la/our part*& a mem/er
o+ .amideleCs +action o+ the part*& <oluso "gundare was murdered /* people alleged to /e lo*al to <a*emi.
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!.2. Fayoses emergence as PDP candidate
0nli3e the (P, where the go1ernorship candidate was adopted without part* primaries& the P)P conducted
gu/ernatorial primaries among '4 aspirants on -arch 22& 2#'4. <a*ose emerged as the P)P go1ernorship
candidate a+ter winning +our hundred and si=t* two 1otes out o+ +our hundred and se1ent* Se1en 1otes cast. He
de+eated a +ormer minister o+ Police (++airs& ,ale/ "lu/olade& who got se1en 1otes& -r. (deda*o (de*e*e who
got three 1otes and -rs. -argaret "gundipe& who scored 9ust one 1ote. <a*ose was declared winner o+ the poll
amidst protests +rom other aspirants who /o*cotted the primar* election /ased on the allegation that the
leadership o+ the part* had s3ewed the process to +a1our <a*ose.
It was a t*pical political come/ac3 +or <a*ose starting with admission o+ guilt& then an apolog* and then the
roc3* road to redemption. <a*oseCs open admission o+ his past mista3es and willingness and readiness to redress
these in the light o+ e=igencies in the state endeared him to the people. <a*ose re+erred to himsel+ as >the
prodigal son? and sought to mend +ences with the traditional rulers& and other nota/le indi1iduals.
!.!. Heavy Military and Police Presence
6he securit* agencies were determined to ensure that there was peace in 23iti state /e+ore& during and a+ter the
election. ,onse:uentl*&
K (ll securit* agencies were +ull* prepared +or the election.
K "++icers and men were speciall* trained +or the election and the* 3new what was e=pected o+ them.
K 6here was massi1e preparation in terms o+ personnel and e:uipment to pro1ide sa+et* and securit* to sta++
o+ IN2, to discharge their responsi/ilit* and +or the people o+ 23iti state to e=ercise their ci1ic right.
K (de:uate securit* was pro1ided to mem/ers o+ the pu/lic& 2lection "/ser1ers& ,i1il Societ* "rganiHations
and the -edia.
K In each Senatorial )istrict& apart +rom the securit* agencies deplo*ed to secure Polling 0nits& another
detachment o+ '2!&### -o/ile Policemen patrolled and secured the district.
@.4. Campaign Rallies
6he three ma9or contenders& (P,& P)P& and Ga/our Part* candidates tra1ersed the '! local go1ernments o+ 23iti
to can1as +or support +rom the electorate. <a*ose seems to ha1e learnt a +ew lessons with his down to earth and
hum/le messages o+ >I am *our son& /rother and +riend?& and >a +riend o+ the common man? on his /ill/oards&
while <a*emiCs messages o+ >ko Duro soke-let him sta* at the top?& and >oi!e se!e-he does what he sa*s? were
considered arrogant.
@.5. "#$Cs Preparedness for t%e $kiti $lection
Independent National 2lectoral ,ommission (IN2,) was determined to ma3e the 23iti go1ernorship
election the /est it has conducted so +ar +or two reasonsL its conduct o+ the (nam/ra state go1ernorship
election in 2#'@ was +raught with irregularities occasioned /* late arri1al o+ election materials and
a/scond o+ one o+ its o++icers with election results& hence IN2, needed to use the 23iti election to
reassure Nigerians o+ her capa/ilit* to conduct a hitch-+ree election. Second& not a +ew people 1iewed
the 23iti election a dress rehearsal +or the 2#'5 general elections. 6he electoral umpire there+ore needed
to assure Nigerians o+ its resol1e to /e impartial& and pro1ide a le1el pla*ing +ield +or all contestants.
6o achie1e these& the +ollowing measures were ta3enL
K 6he ,ommission customiHed all /allot papers according to local go1ernments such that /allots assigned a
particular local go1ernment were peculiar to it and cannot /e used in another.
K 6he ,ommission customiHed all result sheets such that the* were uni:ue to each Polling 0nit (P0) and the*
could not /e used in an* other.
K 6he ,ommission seriall* num/ered all /allot /o=es such that the* could not /e trans+erred to other P0s and
so that i+ a /allot /o= is snatched and stu++ed it cannot /e /rought /ac3 to the P0.
K 6he ,ommission ga1e additional training to the sta++ recruited to conduct the election so that the* could
per+orm their tas3s with pro+icienc* and integrit*.
K 6he ,ommission also warned its sta++ to do their 9o/s with pro+essionalism& impartialit* and integrit* and
that an*one who is in /reach will /e sanctioned. (Ba3u/u 2#'4)
! National 2lectoral commissioners were dra+ted to the state +or the election.

4. Election )onduct and %esults
6he 7une 2'& 2#'4 23iti go1ernorship election was ad9udged as +ree and +air /* all the sta3eholders including the
(ssociation o+ all the political parties& the election monitoring group& and the candidates themsel1es. 6here were
su++icient election materials& and the materials got to the poling units at the right time. 6here was no harassment
o+ 1oters /ecause o+ the hea1* presence o+ militar*& ci1il de+ence and policemen all o1er the state. (ll the '!
local go1ernments and ' wards were co1ered /* the securit* agents to maintain orderliness. 6here was no
single case o+ /allot /o= snatching or stu++ing unli3e in the past elections. ,ollations o+ results were also orderl*.
( coalition o+ o1er 4## ci1ic organisations under the aegis o+ the 6ransition -onitoring Droup (6-D) 1eri+ied
the +inal results o+ the 23iti State go1ernorship election as released /* the Independent National 2lectoral
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,ommission. 6he group asserted that the polling units generall* opened on time and polling o++icials +ollowed
the prescri/ed procedures. 6he group +urther con+irmed that the 23iti election was a signi+icant logistical
impro1ement o1er the (nam/ra gu/ernatorial election a *ear earlier. ><urther& drawing on o++icial results
independentl* compiled +rom a representati1e random sample o+ polling units& 6-D can independentl* 1eri+*
that the o++icial results announced /* IN2, accuratel* re+lect the /allots. %oters and contestants can ha1e
con+idence that the IN2, results are a true re+lection o+ the will o+ the 1oters o+ 23iti state.? ((lechenu 2#'4).
6-D deplo*ed a total o+ @25 o/ser1ers +or the 23iti gu/ernatorial election. "+ this num/er& 25 were mo/ile
super1isors who mo1ed around the State and @## were assigned to speci+ic polling units.
(P, candidate and incum/ent go1ernor& <a*emi was roundl* de+eated /* <a*ose in all the '! Gocal
Do1ernment areas in the state with a wide margin. <a*ose polled 2#@& #F# 1otes against <a*emiCs '2#&4@@. 6he
Ga/our Part* (GP) candidate "pe*emi .amidele got '$&'@5 1otes.
6his is signi+icant in the sense that <a*emi e1en lost in his home local go1ernment area o+ "*e. 21en though& the
immediate past go1ernor& "lusegun "ni& decamped to (P, +rom P)P a +ew da*s to the election& he could not
help the (P, candidate to win in his IdoM"si local go1ernment area. Ni*i (de/a*o& +ormer go1ernor /etween
'FFF and 2##@& could not also secure 1ictor* +or the (P, in his IrepodunMI+elodun local go1ernment area where
<a*ose and .amidele also hail +rom.
8h* was <a*emiCs (P, so roundl* de+eated /* his opponent who had /een impeached +rom o++ice on account
o+ corruption $ *ears earlierN 6his is the ne=t assignment o+ this paper.
e3iti election result

Source o+ the ta/le4 IN2,

*. +h, -a,e.i/A&) (ost
5.'. "nternal dis%armony and dictators%ip it% t%e APC
"ne o+ the reasons cited /* -ichael "pe*emi .amidele +or lea1ing the (P, +or Ga/our part* was lac3 o+
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internal democrac* within the part*. 6he practice in the (P,Cs +ore/ear in the South west& (,N& was +or some
part* leaders to handpic3 part* candidates. 6he +ormer go1ernor o+ Gagos state and (P, National leader& .ola
6inu/u was 3nown +or selecting his lo*alists to part* positions in most cases. 6his was one o+ the reasons wh*
the part* lost in "ndo state in 2#'@. 6his practice has alienated man* supporters o+ the part*.
6he people o+ 23iti detest >god+ather politics?. 6he* donEt want their go1ernor to ta3e instruction +rom a man in
another state. ( +ormer (P, mem/er who was also a minister during the "/asan9oCs regime& <emi <ani ;a*ode
raised this issue. (ccording to him > 6he re9ection o+ <a*emi at the polls had as much to do with the disgust and
oppro/rium that most people in the South 8est and indeed the countr* har/our and hold +or the tin* ca/al o+
dictators and demi-gods that constitute the (P, leadership as much as it does +or an*thing else? (<ani ;a*ode
2#'4).
5.2. &se and Dump Politics
Some o+ the artisans inter1iewed seem to agree on this +actor the* call >use and dump?. 6he* claimed the*
wor3ed assiduousl* +or <a*emiCs 1ictor* in 2## and also +or the part* in 2#'' legislati1e elections. <a*emi
/ecame inaccessi/le as soon as he reclaimed his mandate at the (ppeal court in 2#'#. 6hese artisans were
courted again +or the 2#'' legislati1e elections and were dumped a+terwards /* the legislators the* wor3ed and
1oted +or. 6he* were not considered +or an* political position on account o+ not /eing well education and the*
were treated li3e lepers a+terwards. (/out two months to the 7une 2' election& the* were approached again with
mone* and /ags o+ rice. 6his >use and dump? tactics did not resonate well with them. 6his time around& the*
too3 the mone* and the rice& /ut decided to 1ote +or <a*ose who is not a man o+ letters li3e <a*emi& /ut who
relates well with them. <a*emiCs administration ga1e itsel+ an >elitist? posture there/* disconnecting itsel+ with
the ma9orit* o+ the 1oters who are the scarcel* educated artisans.
5.@. Failed Political Promises and 'insensitive( Policies
<a*emi em/ar3ed on ci1il ser1ice re-organiHation as soon as he /ecame go1ernor in 2#'#. 6his did not go down
well with the state ci1il ser1ants. 6he computeriHation o+ Internall* Denerated Re1enue (IDR) and introduction
o+ e-pa*ment which /loc3ed the loopholes& through which some ci1il ser1ants +leeced go1ernment resources& put
the go1ernment on a collision course against power+ul /ureaucrats who called the shots and determined the
political direction o+ 23iti. 6he state has a/out 5@&### wor3ers who in+luence the direction o+ 1otes in the state.
<a*emi was not the in the good /oo3s o+ these ci1il ser1ants.
(lso& <a*emi o++ended the teachers /* introducing the 6eachers )e1elopment Needs (ssessment (6)N() to test
teachersC competence. <a*emi tried to compel teachers to sit +or the e=aminations thrice& /ut thrice he +ailed
/ecause the 6eachersC 0nion em/ar3ed on industrial action each time a date was +i=ed +or the test. <a*emiCs
promise during the campaign +or his re-election to discontinue the test was seen /* the teachers as a mere
political promise which he would renege upon once he is re-elected. 6he long drawn /attle with teachers o1er the
competenc* test dealt a se1ere /low to his popularit* among teachers. He also re+used to pa* the new 6eachersC
Salar* Structure (6SS) until /arel* a month to the election when it /ecame clear that teachers and ci1il ser1ants
had made up their minds that he would not /e getting their 1otes.
<a*emi also did not +are well with the 6ertiar* institution students despite his promise to peg tuition during his
+irst campaign. ><a*emi committed political suicide /* antagoniHing a core constituenc* J students. 23iti State
0ni1ersit* (2;S0) students waged a serious war o+ attrition against <a*emi o1er his "cto/er '!& 2#'#&
inauguration promise to slash tuition to N5#&### +rom an a1erage o+ N'2#&###. 6hough the go1ernment pegged
tuition at N5#&### as promised& school authorities hi3ed administrati1e charges - li/rar* +ees& medical +ees
among others to the tune o+ N5#&###. (s i+ that was not enough& 2;S0 directed students to pa* all charges with
their tuition at once& leading to the closure o+ the 0ni1ersit* twice. 8ith the /ro3en promise to reduce tuitionO&
the students o1erwhelmingl* 1oted against <a*emi? (huhuonline 2#'4).
5.4. Aversion to )
nd
*erm +yndrome
Some 23iti people also ha1e the opinion that those go1ernors re-elected +or a second term o+ +our *ears end up
doing nothing in those +our *ears other than to scoop state resources in preparation +or li+e a+ter tenure o+ o++ice.
Since those go1ernors are no longer in need o+ 1otes +or re-election& the* usuall* care less how the electorates
are +aring. .ased on this thin3ing& some o+ the 1oters desired a change o+ go1ernment. 6heir thin3ing was that
<a*ose did not +inish his +irst tenure and his election should not /e considered a 2
nd
term. ( weird /ut
interesting political tradition in 23iti State is that no go1ernor has /een re-elected /ac3 to /ac3. 23iti people
seem to ta3e pride in this tradition. <a*ose indeed promised that neither he nor his deput* will see3 re-election.
5.5. $motions , Personality Preference
6he 1oters seem to connect well with <a*ose /ecause o+ his penchant to stop at di++erent places e1en a+ter he had
/een impeached to share a drin3 or two with the commoners. He was +re:uent at social +unctions e1en when
unin1ited& at +oot/all games and e1en at school e1ents.
>6hose who are still searching +or answers /ehind the reason wh* -r. (*odele <a*ose triumphed o1er the more
cere/ral )r. ;a*ode <a*emi should loo3 no +urther than the mar3et place o+ emotions. Reports showed that -r.
<a*ose connected emotionall* /etter with the 1oters than )r. <a*emi. 6he critical mass o+ the 1oters that swa*ed
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!@
the election were imper1ious to the su/stance o+ what )r. <a*emi stands +or. <a*emiCs dri1e to reposition 23iti&
his social securit* initiati1e and man* other landmar3 achie1ements pales into insigni+icance when the 1oters are
con+ronted with the +ollowing :uestions4 )o I li3e himN )oes he represent m* 1aluesN Is he the 3ind o+ gu* that I
can ha1e a drin3 withN 6hese are some o+ the :uestions that 23iti 1oters li3el* as3ed themsel1es as the* got
read* to cast their /allots. 6he people o+ 23iti in +ollowing their gut ha1e returned their 1erdict& in the
gu/ernatorial contest /etween (*odele <a*ose and ;a*ode <a*emi& the* pre+erred the +ormer and now we can
understand wh* the philosopher )a1id Hume posited that reason is a sla1e to emotion? ((9ia 2#'4)
In +act& one o+ those inter1iewed summed it up this wa*L >8e support <a*ose /ecause he understands us. He is
close to the common man and 3nows our pro/lem?.
*.0. Federal Mig%t
6wo da*s /e+ore the 7une 2' go1ernorship election& some leaders o+ the (P, including the go1ernor o+ Ri1ers
state& Rotimi (maechi were /arred /* securit* agents who had /een deplo*ed in 23iti state +rom entering 23iti
to attend the (P, rall*. (P, saw this as an a++ront on its part* leaders and an a/use o+ +ederal power to gi1e the
P)P candidate an undue ad1antage. 21en though the election was largel* +ree and +air& the o1erHealousness o+
some securit* o++icials who restricted the mo1ement o+ some (P, Do1ernors into 23iti and the ar/itrar* arrest
o+ some o++icers o+ the part* also pre1ented the (P, +rom per+ecting its last minute plans +or the election. "ne o+
those plans included the distri/ution o+ mone* to all the ' wards to in+luence 1oters in +a1our o+ its candidate.
21en where the mone* got to the ward le1el& part* o++icials were not a/le to share the mone* /e+ore the election
due to the hea1* presence o+ securit* personnel. 6he securit* personnel were said to ha1e loo3ed the other wa*
when P)P was distri/uting mone* two da*s /e+ore the election.
5.. &nemployed -out%
Bouth unemplo*ment also contri/uted to the loss o+ (P,.
In his open letter to <a*ose a+ter his election& legal icon& +ounder o+ (+e .a/alola 0ni1ersit*& and a prominent
23iti indigene& ,hie+ (+e .a/alola touched on another +actor that aided <a*oseCs electionL
>I o/ser1ed that *our electoral 1ictor* could /e attri/uted largel* to large num/er o+ *ouths most o+ whom were
unemplo*ed and unemplo*a/le who are hoping +or a /etter tomorrow& as well as students who are angling +or
a++orda/le education& particularl* at the tertiar* le1el o+ education. In a land-loc3ed state li3e 23iti which is
a++licted with a high dosage o+ unemplo*ment& it is +or *ou to 9usti+* the trust and con+idence the electorate had
willingl* reposed in *ou /* deli1ering on the promises *ou ha1e made.? ((ri*i/i 2#'4)
*.1. *%e .agos Factor
(nother +actor was the composition o+ <a*emiCs ca/inet o+ commissioners and special ad1isers. Some o+ these
ca/inet mem/ers were un3nown to the people o+ 23iti. 6he* do not ha1e an* electoral 1alue as such as the* do
not command an* political +ollowing. -ost o+ them were /rought in +rom Gagos and a/road. 6he* hardl* spent
their wee3ends in 23iti. >.ut the de+eat o+ <a*emi ought not to ha1e surprised pundits& including the e=-go1ernor
himsel+. 6he mistrust /etween the people and <a*emi /egan with the composition o+ his ca/inet. -ost o+ his
ca/inet mem/ers were mainl* technocrats& not rooted in grassroots politics& and +ailed to translate the di1idends
o+ democrac* to the people outside the corridors o+ power. 6he reason& man* o+ them could not deli1er their
constituencies. .e that as it ma*& the administration graduall* came to /e 1iewed as elitist& with scant regard +or
the political conse:uence o+ ma9or go1ernment policies& and how it a++ected the a1erage 23iti citiHen? (I/e3we
2#'4).
-ost o+ the contractors who handled ma9or pro9ects under <a*emi also came +rom outside the state. Some o+
those inter1iewed said small contracts li3e dredging o+ drainage were handled /* contractors +rom outside who
also /rought their wor3ers +rom outside. Hence& there was a >capital +light? /ecause those contractors and their
wor3ers would go /ac3 to /ase a+ter the e=ecution o+ the contract. <a*ose cashed in on this pro/lem when he
said during his campaigns and immediatel* a+ter his election that instead o+ awarding a N2 million contract +or
the construction o+ ta/les in schools to a contractor +rom Gagos& he would split the contract up into /its and
award them to local roadside carpenters so that the resources o+ the state will go round.

0. )onclusion
6his paper has tried to del1e into the electoral /eha1iour o+ the 23iti people. 23iti state came into e=istence in
'FF!. It used to /e part o+ the old "ndo state in the South-western part o+ Nigeria. 23iti people were 3nown +or
/eing strong-willed& independent minded and well educated. 21en those who did not go +ar in +ormal education
ha1e a high sense o+ in+ormal education and the* stri1e to /e well in+ormed a/out political issues around them.
<a*oseCs 1ictor* despite his antecedents is a testimon* to the +act that so1ereignt* /elongs to the people& who
ha1e the inaliena/le rights to elect whome1er the* pre+er e1en when the elites thin3 otherwise. It is the t*rann*
o+ the ma9orit*. 6he electorate ha1e pre1ailed whether the* are right or wrong. 6o them the political part* does
not reall* matter. It is the personalit* and in this matter& <a*ose was pre+erred o1er <a*emi. I+ <a*emi had /een
in P)P and <a*ose in (P,& <a*ose would still ha1e won.
6he election also showed IN2,Cs growing maturit* and preparedness +or 2#'5. 6he onl* di++erence is that in a
Research on Humanities and Social Sciences www.iiste.org
ISSN (Paper)2224-5!! ISSN ("nline)2225-#4$4 ("nline)
%ol.4& No.'5& 2#'4

!4
general election where almost all the @! states will ha1e elections in one da*& the presence o+ the securit*
personnel will not /e as concentrated as it was in 23iti. IN2, has also +ound a solution to /allot /o= snatching
and stu++ing /* customising /allot papers such that no two local go1ernments will ha1e the same /allot paper.
6he election also showed the inaccurac* o+ opinion polls in some cases. -ost opinion polls within and outside
23iti had predicted a landslide +or the incum/ent& /ut shoc3ingl*& the* were all pro1ed wrong. <a*emiCs displa*
o+ political maturit* /* calling and congratulating <a*ose on his 1ictor* as soon as the election results were
released showed that he understands the will o+ the ma9orit* and he is not going to contend with it.
8hile it is /elie1ed in some :uarters that <a*emi was prudent with the use o+ state +unds& the manner in which
he +unded his campaign in the last minute /* distri/uting mone* to di++erent constituencies to curr* electoral
+a1our does not seem to 9usti+* that /elie+. "n the other hand& +or a go1ernor whose scorecard was at least
commenda/le in areas li3e road construction& and wel+are pac3age +or the aged& <a*emiCs de+eat depicts a total
disconnect /etween the go1ernment and the people. -a9orit* o+ the people +elt neglected in the scheme o+ things
due to lac3 o+ access to the seat o+ power& and also due to lac3 o+ patronage /* the core mem/ers o+ the <a*emiCs
go1ernment. -ost o+ these core mem/ers were +rom outside 23iti state and were un3nown to the locals.
<a*emi& to man*& was an outsider who >should go /ac3 to Dhana?. (side +rom road construction& most people
could not e1en remem/er an* other thing he did.
(part +rom the +act that his go1ernment did not communicate his programs well to the people& <a*emi appeared
to lac3 an understanding o+ what the people reall* wanted. He was /us* gi1ing the people what he thought the*
wanted rather than as3ing them what the* wanted. 6he lesson is that e1er* go1ernment should periodicall*
conduct impact assessment opinion polls a/out their policies to ascertain whether those policies meet the
e=pectations o+ the electorate or not. <a*ose& /eing closer to the people and li1ing amongst them e1en when he
was remo1ed +rom o++ice understood what the people wanted and promised to gi1e them 9ust that. His political
antecedents notwithstanding& he struc3 the right cord with the people and the* /elie1e and trust him more than
the* trusted <a*emi.

%e2erences
1. (/dulmumin Bin3a (9ia (2#'4)&?6he 23iti 2lection and the Role o+ 2motion in the "utcome?.
Retrie1ed 2Fth o+ 7une& 2#'4 +rom %ttp/00sa%arareporters1com0article0ekiti-election-and-role-emotion-outcome
2. <emi <ani ;a*ode (2#'4) >23iti 2lections4 Hard Gessons +or (P,?. Retrie1ed 2Fth o+ 7une& 2#'4 +rom
%ttp/00omo2ua1com0)3450360ekiti-elections-%ard-lessons-for-apc-femi-fani-kayode0
@. D/enga (ri*i/i (2#'4) >(+e .a/alola writes <a*ose& ad1ises on mo1ing 23iti +orward?. Retrie1ed 2Fth
o+ 7une& 2#'4 +rom %ttp/001vanguardngr1com0)3450360afe-!a!alola-rites-fayose-advises-on-moving-ekiti-
forard07st%as%189v:c;do1#2Mu!m"81dpuf
4. Huhunonline (2#'4) > 2ditorial4 23iti4 the trouncing o+ >7;<? and lessons +or (P,?. Retrie1ed 2Fth o+
7une& 2#'4 +rom %ttp/001%u%uonline1com0inde81p%p0opinions0534<-editorial-ekiti-and-t%e-triump%-of-
stomac%-infrastructure
5. 7ohn (lechenu (2#'4) >23iti4 IN2,Cs results accurate& sa*s 6-D?. Retrie1ed 2Fth o+ 7une +rom
%ttp/001punc%ng1com0politics0ekiti-inecs-results-accurate-says-tmg0
!. -onda* (te/oh (2#'@) >"pe*emi .amidele dumps (P,& 9oins Ga/our Part*?. Retrie1ed 2Fth o+ 7une&
2#'4 +rom %ttp/001premiumtimesng1com0nes04=36:>-!reaking-opeyemi-!amidele-dumps-apc-2oins-la!our-
party1%tml
. Nicholas I/e3we (2#'4) >23iti 2lection4 8h* <a*emi was de+eated >. Retrie1ed 2Fth o+ 7une& 2#'4
+rom %ttp/001premiumtimesng1com0opinion046>=>:-ekiti-election-fayemi-defeated1%tml
$. Sule Ba3u/u& (2#'4) >IN2, prepared to ma3e 23iti go1ernorship election the /est J 7ega?. Retrie1ed
2Fth o+ 7une& 2#'4 +rom %ttp/001nationalaccordnespaper1com0orld0political-nes0)))3-inec-prepared-to-
make-ekiti-governors%ip-election-t%e-!est-2ega
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