APC’s Aiyedatiwa wins Ondo guber poll, defeats challengers in ALL 18 LGAs

Lucky Aiyedatiwa, candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the Ondo governorship election, has been declared winner of the Ondo governorship election.

Olayemi Akinwumi, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) returning officer, announced the results in Akure, the state capital, on Sunday.

Aiyedatiwa, the incumbent governor of Ondo state, won the election in all 18 LGAs with 366,781 votes to defeat his closest rival, Agboola Ajayi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 117,845 votes.

Nejo Adeyemi, candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), came a distant third with 4,138 votes.

“I, Professor Olayemi Akinwumi, the returning officer, hereby certify that I am the returning officer of the Ondo state governorship election held on the 16th of November, 2024,” Akinwumi said.

“I hereby declare that Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC), having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and he is returned elected.”

Akinwumi said there was a court order to substitute Sola Ebiseni, candidate of the Labour Party (LP), with Ayodele Olorunfemi.

Olorunfemi garnered 1162 votes, Abbas Mimiko, the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) candidate, secured 2692 votes.

The returning officer added that there were 497,077 total valid votes cast in the Ondo state governorship election 2024, with 11,886 rejected votes.

The off-cycle election in the south-west state was contested by 17 candidates.

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

The APC candidate said he would win the state off-cycle gubernatorial election due to his record in office.

Aiyedatiwa said he was the only contender who visited all LGAs in the state to campaign, adding that he is willing to concede defeat if the election is free from manipulation.

On the other hand, Ajayi voiced apprehensions regarding INEC’s capability to ensure a fair electoral process within the state.