Former President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his satisfaction with the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s success in the Ondo State governorship election, which saw Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa secure a resounding victory.
In his response to the election results, Buhari, through a statement signed by Garba Shehu, stated that the voters had clearly and emphatically expressed their confidence in the party and the governor, and that their wishes, conveyed through the ballot, should be respected by all stakeholders.
Buhari emphasized that the election outcome demonstrates the strength of democracy in Nigeria, which remains resilient despite the country’s size and diversity.
He also noted that the victory presents a challenge to the governor-elect to implement policies that foster economic growth, address high unemployment and inflation, and advance welfare programs aimed at improving the lives of the people.
President Buhari commended the Independent National Electoral Commission and law enforcement agencies for the efforts they put into reducing observed shortcomings in previous elections.
He then wished Governor Aiyedatiwa and his team a successful tenure in office.
The Returning Officer for the election, Olayemi Akinwumi, who is also the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Lokoja, Kogi State, officially declared Aiyedatiwa the winner on Sunday, securing the governor’s continued tenure at the Government House in Alagbaka, Akure.
Aiyedatiwa, the incumbent governor of Ondo State, received 366,781 votes, defeating his closest rival, former Deputy Governor Ajayi Agboola of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 117,845 votes—more than half the number of votes received by the APC candidate.