Ondo State Governor Lucky Ayedatiwa has been declared the winner of Saturday’s governorship election in the state.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced Ayedatiwa’s victory after he secured wins in all 18 local government areas of the state.
Ayedatiwa clinched the final result in Ese Odo Local Government Area, which was presented on Sunday at the State Collation Centre in Akure, adding to his earlier wins in the 17 local government areas previously announced.
In the final declaration, the State Returning Officer, Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi, confirmed that Ayedatiwa, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, received a total of 366,781 votes, defeating Agboola Ajayi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 117,845 votes.
Prof. Akinwumi stated that Ayedatiwa secured the majority of valid votes cast in the election and was thus duly returned as elected governor.
He said, “I, Professor Olayemi Durotimi Akinwunmi, hereby certify that I am the Returning Officer for the 2024 Ondo State governorship election held on the 16th November, 2024.
“That Ayedatiwa Lucky Orimisan of the APC, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and governor-elect.”
The Returning Officer noted that the total valid votes in the election stood at 497,077; rejected votes were 11,886, while the total votes cast were 508,963.
Before the final election results from Ilaje, Ese Odo, and Odigbo Local Government Areas were announced, Governor Lucky Ayedatiwa had already secured victories in 15 local government areas.
The State Returning Officer, Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi, who also serves as the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Lokoja, Kogi State, formally commenced the collation exercise at 12:10 a.m. on Sunday, receiving results from some LGAs.
In the results of the first 13 LGAs announced, Ayedatiwa won all, including Idanre LGA, the home of the PDP’s deputy governorship candidate, Festus Akingbaso. In Idanre, the APC garnered 14,157 votes, defeating the PDP, which polled 5,897 votes.
However, PDP agent Olaniyi Ogungbuji raised concerns, alleging that there was no voting in Ofosun Oniseri due to the presence of hoodlums who chased PDP agents away. He called on INEC to exclude the figures from the final results and also reported an incident of ballot snatching at the Alade unit.
After the announcement of the 13th LGA’s results, Prof. Akinwumi adjourned the collation exercise, stating it would resume at 5 a.m. for the remaining five LGAs.
When the collation resumed, results from Okitipupa LGA were presented, where the APC secured 26,811 votes, surpassing the PDP’s 10,233. In Akure North LGA, APC recorded 14,451 votes, while PDP managed 5,787.
By noon on Sunday, the results from Odigbo, Ilaje, and Ese Odo LGAs were presented, all favoring the APC.
Before the final declaration of results, representatives of all political parties present, including the PDP, signed the result sheet and received copies for record purposes.
See the breakdown of the LGs announced so far:
1. Ifedore LGA:
APC: 14,157
PDP: 5,897
SDP: 21
2. Ondo East LGA:
APC: 8,163
PDP: 2,843
SDP: 15
3. IleOluji/OkeIgbo LGA:
APC: 16,600
PDP: 4,442
SDP: 08
4. Idanre LGA:
APC: 9,114
PDP: 8,940
LP: 24
APGA: 25
5. Irele LGA
APC: 17,117
PDP: 6,601
LP: 15
APGA: 30
6. Akoko South West LGA
APC: 29,700
ADP: 87
PDP: 5,517
APGA: 23
SDP: 11
7. Owo LGA:
APC: 31,914
ADP: 140
PDP: 4,740
AAC: 16
APGA: 36
LP: 42
8. Ose LGA
AA: 03
AAC: 08
APGA: 19
ADC: 141
APC: 16,555
LP: 06
PDP: 4,472
9. Akure South LGA:
AA: 08
AAC: 58
APGA: 95
ADC: 630
APC: 32,969
PDP: 17,926
LP: 238
SDP: 138
ZLP: 252
10. Akoko North East:
AA: 03
AAC: 19
APGA: 36
APC: 25,657
LP: 14
PDP: 5,072
SDP: 03
11. Ondo West LGA
A: 31
AA: 09
AAC: 30
ADC: 415
ADP: 143
APC: 20,755
LP: 181
PDP: 6,387
SDP: 123
12. Akoko South East LGA
A: 02
AAC: 04
ADC: 81
ADP: 28
APC: 12,140
APGA: 19
PDP: 2,692
SDP: 03
13. Akoko North West LGA
A: 06
AA: 04
AAC: 14
ADC: 130
ADP: 51
APC: 25,010
APGA: 21
LP: 23
PDP: 5,502
SDP: 05
14. Akure North LGA
A: 9
ADC: 180
APC: 14,451
LP: 238
PDP: 5,787
PRP: 6
SDP: 46
15. Okitipupa LGA
A: 5
ADC 284
APC: 26,811
LP: 27
PDP: 10,233
PRP: 17
SDP: 18
16. Odigbo LGA
AA: 08
AAC: 29
APGA: 76
APC: 26,683
LP: 34
PDP: 9,348
PRP: 31
SDP: 12
ZLP: 70
17. Ilaje LGA
AA: 02
AAC: 10
ADC: 107
AGPA: 21
APC: 24,474
PDP: 3,632
LP: 176
ZLP: 04
18. Ese Odo LGA
AA: 01
AAC: 03
APC: 14,511
APGA: 17
PDP: 7,814
LP: 45