Aiyedatiwa takes commanding lead in Ondo guber poll after winning 15 of 18 LGAs

Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, is well ahead of his compatriots in the Ondo governorship election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) commenced the announcement of the results at midnight on Saturday.

So far, results from 15 local government areas (LGAs) have been announced, with three outstanding.

Aiyedatiwa has polled 268,144 votes so far, while Agboola Ajayi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has secured 79,125 votes and Abbas Mimiko of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) has won 2,365.

The APC candidate, who is the incumbent governor, has won in all the 15 LGAs, including the strongholds of his challengers.

Results from Ilaje, Ese-Odo and Odigbo LGAs are still being expected at the collation centre.

The collation exercise was adjourned till 12pm by the INEC returning officer for the election.

Meanwhile, on the INEC result viewing portal, 99 percent of the governorship election results have been uploaded.

The election, which took place on Saturday, was largely peaceful and devoid of violence in most parts of the state.

However, journalists and civil society organisations observed several cases of vote trading.

“This situation has continued unabatedly and heightened in this election. It is worrying that, despite the high presence of security personnel at the polling units, vote trading went on openly unchecked during the voting hours,” the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room said in its preliminary assessment.