In a decisive and hard-fought contest, Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has emerged victorious in the Ondo State governorship election, securing a commanding mandate to continue his leadership for the next four years.
Aiyedatiwa, who has been serving as the state’s acting governor since December 2023, was declared the winner by the Returning Officer, following the conclusion of the collation process.
He garnered 366,781 votes, far outpacing his main rival, Ajayi Agboola of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who secured 117,845 votes – a margin of more than 250,000 votes.
The announcement was made at 2:30pm on Sunday at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) collation center in Akure, the state capital.
The final results confirmed that Aiyedatiwa, the incumbent governor, had won across all 18 local government areas of Ondo State, further cementing his stronghold on the Sunshine State.
His victory ensures that he will remain in office, following his appointment as governor on December 27, 2023, after the passing of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.
Akeredolu’s death had paved the way for Aiyedatiwa, who was his deputy during Akeredolu’s first term, to assume the governorship.
In his victory speech, Aiyedatiwa expressed gratitude to the people of Ondo State for their support, emphasizing the strides his administration had made in the areas of infrastructure, welfare, and economic growth.
“I am humbled by the overwhelming support of our people,” Aiyedatiwa said. “Our government will continue to prioritize the welfare of Ondo residents, ensuring prosperity and progress for all.”
Despite the landslide victory, the election was not without controversy.
Agboola, the PDP candidate, raised concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.
He accused INEC of intentionally delaying the collation of results, suggesting it was a deliberate tactic to manipulate the outcome.
“This election has been compromised,” Agboola said, alleging widespread vote-buying and malfunctioning of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) during the polls.
Observers also noted reports of rampant vote-buying across the state, despite the presence of security personnel at polling stations.
The Situation Room, an election monitoring group, condemned the prevalence of electoral malpractice, warning that vote trading continued unchecked.
“It is a worrying trend,” the group stated in its assessment, urging for urgent reforms to address these challenges in future elections.
In his campaign, Aiyedatiwa focused on promises of economic growth and improved living conditions for workers in the state, pointing to his administration’s initiative to raise the minimum wage to N73,000 – surpassing the Federal Government’s N70,000 threshold.
His team emphasized that these actions demonstrated his commitment to the well-being of Ondo citizens.
With the results now official, Aiyedatiwa is set to continue his leadership of Ondo State, as he prepares to be sworn in for his first full term as governor on December 27, 2023.
The APC’s victory in Ondo represents a significant political win for the ruling party in the South-West region.
