APC’s Ehindero wins Ondo by-election, takes Tunji-Ojo’s reps seat

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Ife Ehindero, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the by-election for the Akoko north-east/north-west seat in the house of representatives. 

Ehindero will replace Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who was appointed minister of interior by President Bola Tinubu, in the green chamber. 

Johnson Fasinmirin, the returning officer, declared Ehindero winner after he polled 35,504 votes to defeat Olalekan Bada of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who scored 15,328 votes.

The returning officer said the total votes cast were 51,896, with 51,341 valid votes, while 555 votes were rejected.

“I, Fasinmirin Johnson, hereby certify that I am the Returning Officer for the 2024 Akoko North-East and Akoko North-West Federal Constituency By-election held on Feb. 3. The election was contested and Ehindero Ifeoluwa Babajide of APC polled 35,504 while Bada Olalekan Oladapo scored 15,328,” he said.

“That Ehindero Ifeoluwa Babajide of APC, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and returned elected.”

Speaking shortly after the election on Saturday, Ehindero decried the low turnout of voters.

“Usually, during by-elections, the turnout is always low, compared to the general elections. So, we expected that it won’t be as much as that of the general election but the turnout is not as high as we expect,” he said.

“But from what I’m hearing from other polling units, we are hoping that our people will still come out to vote. We still have enough time since it is between 8 am and 2 pm.

“The security agencies have been of good conduct so far. At my polling unit, security men have been professional and there hasn’t been any report of security breaches across the wards.”