The Starnews online poll, purporting that Agboola Ajayi is leading Lucky Aiyedatiwa in the race for the Ondo governorship, fails to reflect the sentiments of the Ondo voters in any meaningful way. Online polls, particularly in Nigeria, often lack reliability, as shown in both recent presidential and gubernatorial elections.
Leading up to the 2023 Nigerian presidential election, for instance, multiple online polls had Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) as the frontrunner. The widespread support for Obi on social media suggested an LP victory. However, Bola Tinubu of the APC ultimately won, underscoring that online sentiment frequently misrepresents the broader electorate’s will.
The same misalignment was seen in the 2024 Edo State governorship election. Olumide Apata, a Labour Party candidate, appeared popular in online polls, creating an expectation of a strong performance. Yet, he was soundly defeated by Senator Monday Ekpebolo of the APC, confirming that digital trends do not necessarily translate to real-world votes.

In Ondo State, the true political climate diverges significantly from Starnews‘s portrayal. As the November 16th, 2024 election nears, it is evident that Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the incumbent APC candidate, holds strong ground-level support. His ongoing local government campaign tour has generated considerable momentum, further reinforced by the recent defection of PDP members to the APC. These defections signify a shift toward APC that continues to gather strength, with additional PDP members expected to join APC ranks as the party move to hold its mega campaign on Wednesday 13th.
These developments reflect the APC’s strategic advantage in mobilizing voters, solidifying party structures, and sustaining Aiyedatiwa’s popularity across Ondo. Unlike online polls, which can be skewed by factors like urban bias and limited sample size, the real-world evidence suggests that Aiyedatiwa remains the favored candidate.
Ultimately, Starnews‘s online poll may stir conversation, but it is not a reliable measure of the political realities in Ondo State. Aiyedatiwa’s strong backing from grassroots organizations and traditional stakeholders, combined with recent party realignments, indicate he is on a solid path to victory on November 16th.