Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has strongly rejected claims that he receives N1.2 billion in security votes, calling the allegations “lies from the pit of hell.” He made these remarks during a governorship election debate held in Akure, organized by Channels Television and its partners. The debate provided a platform for candidates to outline their plans for the state.

Aiyedatiwa, who is vying for election in the upcoming November 16 governorship race, faced off against his opponent Agboola Ajayi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Both candidates are former deputy governors under the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and are representing the two leading political parties in Ondo State: the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the PDP.

In his remarks, Aiyedatiwa accused Ajayi of spreading falsehoods regarding the state’s security allocations, stating, “You don’t just play politics by coming here to the whole world that somebody is drawing N1.2 billion as a security vote. That is a lie from the pit of hell.” However, he did not disclose the actual amount he receives for security purposes.

The governor emphasized that all government spending is guided by a budgetary framework, asserting that his administration operates above the established budget. He urged Ajayi to verify his claims before publicly disseminating what he described as misleading information.

As the election date approaches, Aiyedatiwa’s statements underscore the heightened political tension and the significance of transparency in governance, particularly regarding financial allocations for security in Ondo State.