• Edo Gov hails Aiyedatiwa’s victory
From David Onuoja, Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the governorship election in Ondo State.
The Returning Officer for the election Olayemi Akinwumi, who is also the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Lokoja, Kogi State declared Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner of the election on Sunday, extending the governor’s stay at the Government House in Alagbaka, Akure.
Aiyedatiwa, the incumbent governor of the Sunshine State polled 366,781 votes to defeat his closest rival and a former deputy governor of the state Ajayi Agboola who flew the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag. He scored 117,845 votes, more than twice lower than the APC candidate.
“That Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa of the APC having satisfied the requirement of the law is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected,” the returning officer said at exactly 2:30 pm at the INEC collation centre in Akure.
The declaration came hours after the collation of results for the election began in the early hours of Sunday. Although the collation centre went on breaks, the APC took a commanding lead with over 200,000 votes ahead of the PDP.
The final results showed that the APC won the election in a landslide, clearing all 18 local government areas.
INEC returning officer, Professor Akinwumi, gave the details as follows: Ifedore LGA, APC 14,157, PDP: 5,897 and SDP: 21.
Ondo East LGA: APC 8,163, PDP 2843 and SDP: 15. Also, in IleOluji/OkeIgbo LGA: APC 16,600, PDP: 4,442. Idanre LGA: APC: 9,114 and PDP: 8940.
Others are Irele LGA:APC 17,117, PDP: 6601. Akoko South West LGA: APC: 29,700, ADP 87, PDP 5,517, APGA 23 and SDP 11 while in Owo LGA: APC 31, 914, ADP 140 and PDP 4740.
In Ose LGA: APC 16,555, LP 06, and PDP 4472. In Akure South LGA: APC 32,969 and PDP 17,926, in Akoko North East: APC 25,657, PDP 5072 and SDP 03.Ondo West LGA :APC 20,755, LP 181 and PDP 6387.
The rest are: Akoko South East : APC 12,140, APGA 19 and PDP 2692. Akoko North West LGA: APC 25010 and PDP 5502. In Okitipuoa LGA: APC 26,811 and PDP 10,233. Akure North LGA: APC- 14,451 and PDP- 5,787.
Odigno LGA: APC 26,683 and PDP 9348. In Ilaje LGA: APC 24474 and PDP 3632 while in Eseodo LGA: APC 14511 while PDP 7814.
Meanwhile, Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has congratulated the people of Ondo State for electing Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the new governor in last Saturday’s governorship election.
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Fred Itua in a statement issued on Sunday quoted him to have expressed his intention to work closely with Governor Aiyedatiwa for the continued growth and prosperity of both Edo and Ondo States, emphasizing the strong bond between the two states.
He prayed for wisdom and success for Governor Aiyedatiwa as he begins his four-year tenure, and expressed confidence that his leadership would bring even greater development to Ondo State.
“I congratulate my friend and brother, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, for emerging victorious in last Saturday’s governorship election. His victory is a promising sign for both Ondo and Edo States, and I look forward to working closely with him to bring peace and progress to our regions,” Governor Okpebholo said.
“I also want to commend the people of Ondo State for their support and trust in Governor Aiyedatiwa. I am confident that under his leadership, Ondo State will continue to thrive and contribute to the growth of Nigeria as a whole,” he added.