By Olusegun Olanrewaju and Cross Udo
For the Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, yesterday marked a day of joy as he won re-election for his All Progressives Congress (APC) in the ‘Sunshine State.’
According to the election result on his polling sheet, he had led with over 200,000 votes.
However, his closest PDP rival, Agboola Ajayi, a former deputy governor, acting state governor, refused to accept the result.
The governor won in all the 18 local government areas.
President Bola Tinubu felicitated with Aiyedatiwa and commended the peaceful conduct of the process.
A breakdown of the results yesterday showed that the Updated full results, as declared by the electoral umpire, INEC, yesterday showed the results thus:
Akure North APC 14, 451; PDP 5, 787; Okitipupa: APC 26, 811; PDP 10, 233; Akoko Northeast APC 25, 657; PDP 5, 072; Akure South APC 32, 969; PDP 17, 926, and Ose; APC 16, 555; PDP 4, 472.
Others are Akoko North-West, APC (25, 010), PDP 5, 502, Akoko South-East, PC 12, 140, PDP 2, 692, Ondo West, APC 20, 755, PDP 6, 387, Owo APC 31, 914, PDP 4,740, Akoko South-West, APC 29, 700, PDP 5, 517, and Irele APC 17, 117, and PDP 6, 601.
The APC also won in Ifedore with APC 14, 157; PDP 5, 897; Ondo East APC 8, 163; PDP 2, 843; Ile Oluji/Oke-Igbo APC 16, 600; PDP 4, 442; ldanre APC 9, 114; PDP 8, 940.
The rest are Ilaje LG APC 24,474; PDP 3623; LP 176; Ese Odo LG APC 14511; PDP 7814; Odigbo LG APC 26683; PDP 9348.
*Reactions
In his first reaction, yesterday’s new governor-elect, Aiyedatiwa, dedicated his victory to his late boss, Rotimi Akeredolu.
In his acceptance speech after being declared the winner of the election, the sitting Ondo State governor promised “to run an inclusive and participatory government, where every citizen will have a voice and an opportunity to contribute to our collective progress.”
The governor described the victory as being for the Ondo State people.
His words, “We will continue to prioritise the welfare of our people, foster economic growth, and ensure that our state remains a beacon of hope and prosperity for generations to come.
“We will continue to prioritise the welfare of our people, foster economic growth, and ensure that our state remains a beacon of hope and prosperity for generations to come.
“Now that the elections are over, it is time to rededicate ourselves to the service of our dear State.
“I, therefore, want to extend a hand of fellowship to the opposition parties and invite you to collaborate with us in the onerous task of building a better Ondo State for the overall good of our people.”
Aiyedatiwa added, “Let us put aside our differences and work together to create a brighter future for ourselves, our children, and our communities.
“I dedicate this victory, first to the Almighty God and second, to the memories of our departed leader and former governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.”
The governor-elect said he felt “incredibly humbled and honoured by this renewed mandate you gave me to continue in office as your governor.
“I am overwhelmed with gratitude, and I pledge to work tirelessly to justify the trust you have reposed in me,” he stressed.
Aiyedatiwa added, “Let me commend the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for conducting a free, fair, and credible election.
“The security agencies across the board also deserve our gratitude for being very professional in their assignment and maintaining peace throughout the exercise.
“I must appreciate President Bola Tinubu for providing exemplary leadership and ensuring a level playing ground in the just concluded election.”
President Tinubu also congratulated Aiyedatiwa and other candidates of the 17 political parties that contested for the maturity and sense of purpose demonstrated during the campaigns and the election, attributing the polls’ success to the state’s civility.
He enjoined the political actors to allow their orderly conduct to permeate the post-election activities and processes.
The president added that he believes the Ondo State election was another litmus test of the INEC’s capacity, affirming that the electoral body justified the people’s confidence with early preparations, deployment of staff and materials, and handling of the electoral process.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the president also commended INEC for the efficiency of uploading more than 98 per cent of results on the same day of the elections.
He expressed his appreciation to the Nigerian Police Force, National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the military, and other security outfits for their professionalism in maintaining peace and order.
Tinubu urged candidates dissatisfied with the election outcome to explore the opportunities provided by the judicial system to seek redress in areas of conflict.
In another development, the House of Representatives member representing Ilaje/Ese–Odo Federal Constituency, Ondo State, Donald Ojogo, said the weekend’s governorship election results validated the people’s love and appreciation for Governor Aiyedatiwa’s dedication and hard work.
*Opposition rejects results, alleges vote buying, manipulation
The PDP described the just-concluded Ondo State governorship election as INEC’s worst performance in discharging its responsibilities.
In a statement in Abuja yesterday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, expressed the PDP’s dissatisfaction with the election process.
Ologunagba stated, “The PDP, and indeed all lovers of democracy in Nigeria and across the world, have just witnessed the worst election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).”
He further argued that the November 16, 2024, governorship election in Ondo State fell far below the expectations and standards for a free, fair, and credible election.
He described it as a display of electoral fraud, deceit, and manipulation by the APC.
According to Ologunagba, “This election saw widespread election merchandising, monetization, and flagrant vote-buying by the APC and its government apparatus, suppressing the genuine aspirations of the people.
“This devious practice was rampant and pervasive because the APC has impoverished Nigerians, turning poverty into a weapon of mass subjugation, enabling them to manipulate the election and its outcome.”
He further called on Nigerians and the international community to take notice of these reprehensible practices, which were widely witnessed in the November 16 election in Ondo State.
“The PDP demanded that serious action be taken to prevent such occurrences in future elections to ensure the survival of Nigeria’s democracy.
In the meantime, the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) will conduct a more detailed review of the election and its outcome and take appropriate action to defend democracy.
*We worked assiduously to achieve success- say Sanwo-Olu, chair of APC election campaign
Meanwhile, Lagos State Governor and Chairman of the South-West Governors’ Forum, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has assured Governor Aiyedatiwa of his victory and will continue the APC agenda of economic and infrastructural growth in Ondo State.
Sanwo-Olu, who also chairs the National Campaign Council for the Ondo governorship election, gave this assurance during his visit to the APC Situation Room in Akure, Ondo State’s capital.
Members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), campaign council, party faithful, and top political leaders attended the visit.
Accompanying Sanwo-Olu were APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje; Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazak; Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma; Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum and Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; as well as Governors Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), Babagana Zulum (Borno), Hyacinth Alia (Benue), and Bassey Otu (Cross River).
At the Situation Room, Sanwo-Olu expressed gratitude to party faithful and volunteers, commending their efforts and dedication, which he described as instrumental to the APC’s apparent landslide victory. He assured them their hard work and sacrifices would not be in vain.
“As a party, we have demonstrated unity and purpose, and I am confident that Governor Aiyedatiwa will continue to drive economic and infrastructural development in Ondo State under the APC’s progressive agenda,” Sanwo-Olu said.
During the APC mega rally held last Wednesday at MKO Abiola Democracy Park, Akure, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Sanwo-Olu, and other party leaders urged voters to ensure a resounding victory by delivering all 18 local government areas to Aiyedatiwa in weekend’s election.
Party chieftains reiterated this call, emphasising the need for a wide-margin victory to reaffirm the APC’s stronghold in Ondo State.
In a statement issued in Akure, Ojogo expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the wonderful people of Ondo State, particularly the people of Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency, who turned out en masse to reelect Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, ensuring his continuity beyond 2025.
The statement read: “I was filled with joy to see the people of Ese-Odo Local Government, particularly the Arogbos, come out in their thousands as early as 7:30 a.m., eager to cast their votes.
“This massive turnout is a reciprocal gesture by the Arogbos for the kindness and support they received from the people of Ilaje in the previous election, which led to Hon. Ojogo’s historic win as the first Arogbo to occupy a seat in the House of Representatives in Abuja.”
Ojogo assured the people of Ondo State that they should expect more developments and dividends of democracy in the coming days.
“He is committed to working closely with Governor Aiyedatiwa to ensure the state continues to move forward and progress.”
*Yiaga Africa condemns vote buying
Election monitoring group Yiaga Africa condemned the vote buying that characterised Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo State.
Addressing journalists in Akure, the group described vote trading as a significant threat to the credibility of the electoral process.
Yiaga’s Chairman and Director of Programmes, Ezenwa Nwagwu and Cynthia Mbamalu lamented that vote buying promotes electoral corruption.
They added that the process “erodes equality in electoral competition and undermines the legitimacy of electoral victory.”
Nwagwu and Mbamalu said, “Yiaga Africa calls on political parties to refrain from the culture of commercialization of elections in Nigeria and instead invest in practices that enhance trust in the electoral process.”
The election monitoring group also charged INEC to take “deliberate steps to protect the secrecy of the ballot and enforce its electoral guidelines, especially those related to the secrecy of the ballot.”
Additionally, Yiaga Africa recommended that the commission “ensure that the BVAS is consistently updated and upgraded to ensure optimal functionality.”
Yiaga Africa also stated that election offenders arrested during the Ondo election “should be handed over to the police for due prosecution.”
The group said: “Security agencies should be more proactive in arresting and prosecuting perpetrators of voter inducement and vote buying. Political parties and candidates should refrain from this persistent and unacceptable culture of impunity and the ugly trend of buying votes and undermining the integrity of the electoral process.”
It further added that political parties and candidates should encourage issue-based participation in elections, invest in building political parties that uphold democratic principles, and promote electoral integrity.
*Police DIG lauds successful election
On its part, the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) for the Ondo election, Abiodun Alabi, lauded the successful conclusion of the governorship election in the state.
While addressing newsmen, Alabi said, “I am proud to report that the electoral activities, from the initial stages of preparations to the final announcement of results, were secured with the highest level of integrity and professionalism by the police and other security agencies.
“The meticulous efforts of our officers, in collaboration with other election security agencies and stakeholders, ensured that the process was peaceful, accessible, and credible.
“I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to all those who played crucial roles at one stage or another in this electoral process. The dedication and professionalism exhibited by election officials and poll workers were commendable.”
