The election has been won and lost. The people have again spoken. Below are the few of the lessons we can learn from most especially as it relates to the principal actors:

Dr Mimiko
Men are not God. He is one of the luckiest Governor in the State's history. The very first to complete a two term tenure since 1976. His greatest undoing was to have seen himself as "invincible" aside being a scammer.
Nemesis started its payback when Jimoh Ibrahim chose to match him scam for scam, Naira for Naira. Notwithstanding the crisis that shook the party to its roots, he believed the central that had the largest votes would carry his chosen successor to victory.
He also wrongly believed the people understood his failure to pay salaries and pensions. He felt he was the most important factor in the State. He spent the least on the D-Day believing the network of political appointees would rise up to the challenge as always in getting the desired results. When plan b was also glaringly the option, he acted like the stubborn fly that followed the corpse into the grave.
He is a war General who has lost his fluidity and dynamism. In summary, try to recreate yourself even when you have done the impossible. You stand the risk of losing it all when you stop being creative.

Chief Olusola Oke
Try and start it earlier. He had the crowd and started what was a movement. The structure of the party was simply missing. What he did within weeks is commendable. Unfortunately there are no medals for losers in an election. Perhaps, he would have done more with more cash on the election day?

Eyitayo Jegede
Take charge of your destiny. His greatest undoing was likely his 100% dependence on Mimiko. His emergence polarized a struggling party. The legal tussles caused further distractions. He would wake up this morning thinking if indeed he loves his Akure people or they hated him that much. In summary, the seller is as important as the product. An Ebola infected person selling pure water will likely have no or little sales. A fine chic in a joint promoting a brand you don't drink can however make any guy switch that night.

Rotimi Akeredolu
Perhaps the most underrated in the race. He networked with those that mattered to get results having failed at a previous attempt in 2012. He is supposed to be the worst politician amongst the contestants, but he has got what eluded the better politician.
The APC structure aided him in no small way, but money was the ultimate. His party spent over 1b on the election day alone.
In summary, he is the man of the moment. How different his case will be from Kogi State is what we may have to see in the months ahead.
He is the new Machiavelli in the State. He got what he wanted using all he had bruising egos, creating enemies and building bridges along the way. We await the realization of the campaign promises.

The FG
By Nigerian standard, PMB/APC will commend themselves on this free and fair election that did not end up as inconclusive. The monetization of the process which the law enforcement officers chose too ignore is a very huge dent on the anti-corruption crusade of the regime. It is also hypocritical and incompetent if the same issues that saw Dasuki and PDP become a subject of probe is still prevalent and no step has yet to be taken in reforming it.
Ondo State was the battlefield for the 2019 agenda. The glimpse we have had of such shows that PDP can at best be described as "naive/gracious" when it comes to fighting dirty.

Ondo Electorate
You have had your say. You have voted. The Naira rain was rewarding. It solved some immediate needs no doubt, but reality beckons today or tomorrow. We have sold our votes and with it most of our rights to criticize. Actions comes with consequences and we all will live with the one we have made now. It is our collective responsibility to ensure good governance and reject misrule/maladministration. The journey starts in some few months time and i hope we all are ready? Being in APC doesn't mean some of the problems facing us will disappear contrary to the campaing gimmicks. Check out Osun/Oyo if you are in doubt and ask yourself how better off they are than us.

Gov Ayodele Fayose
He will be completing his second term soon. He has seen up close and personal the way and manner federal might and monies were deployed in his sister state. I am sure he will start a sinking fund equal to 2 months pre recession allocation to counter the APC Naira for Naira if the same Naira rain we had in Ondo should be required.

Dr. Fayemi
He would be beaming with smiles having got the formular required to aid his comeback bid in Ekiti. Except the Naira rain works, he would likely not be trusted by those that matters anymore.

Poverty and Electors
The sad reality of poverty in the country surfaced in the election. Like or hate them, those that sold their votes needed the money because it is material to them. It sure may not be to you but it is to some. We simply should not even be talking of election in an atmosphere of poverty this much if we were not an animal kingdom in the first place. The role of money in our polity has assumed the dimesion of a Geometric Progression. The earlier and faster we work on minimizing poverty the better for us all as a people. Politicians are simply back to the days of placing allocations on call and doing what they like having known that money will answer all things.
In summary, money still answereth all things. Get it or die trying

Akokos/Ilaje/Ese Odo/Akures
These are the real losers in the election. How justifiable their actions are is something we all will have to learn as time goes on. None of the above will likely become a Governor in 8 years time if care isn't taken. While that in itself isn't a must, Gov. Mimiko's reign is such that has made it more attractive to have a Gov from your domain. The neglected areas will be hoping they get some attention now.
In closure, it would be nice if elections like we just had were a monthly affair. Students won't be complaining of not being paid bursaries, workers will keep their PVC well as it is a money spinner. Party members will love it too.
God bless Ondo State and congratulations to the governor elect-Barrister Rotimi Akeredolu.


Ayekooto Odo Ondo

Wonderful and objective analysis.

Nice analysis

APC has taken election monetization to another level.Money paved way for Aketi."see and buy" election.
Is this the change we voted for?